Training apparatus

ABSTRACT

A training apparatus includes an operating rod, a strength detector, a motion position detector, a strength speed calculator, a boundary line arrival speed calculator, and a motion speed calculator. The operating rod moves a held limb. The strength detector outputs a strength component signal based on a magnitude of a strength component. The motion position detector detects a motion position of the operating rod. The strength speed calculator calculates a strength speed. The boundary line arrival speed calculator calculates a boundary line arrival speed whose absolute value is smaller as a boundary line distance is shorter. The motion speed calculator calculates a lower one of the strength speed and the boundary line arrival speed as the motion speed at which the operating rod should move.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to Japanese PatentApplication No. 2014-220070, filed on Oct. 29, 2014, which applicationis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a training apparatus for supportingrehabilitation on patient's upper limb and lower limb according to apredetermined training program.

2. Description of Related Art

Since the rehabilitation aimed at motor function recovery of a strokepatient's hemiplegic upper limb or lower limb is generally provided byan occupational therapist or a physical therapist, efficient provisionof the rehabilitation is limited. For example, in the rehabilitationaimed at the motor function recovery of an upper limb, an accuratemovement of a paralyzed upper limb is mainly required to be passivelyand actively repeated to the utmost extent in a slightly wider rangethan a current range. An occupational therapist or physical therapistteaches a patient an accurate movement, and guides the patient an activemovement while applying a passive load to a patient's upper limb througha procedure based on the rehabilitation relating to the motor functionrecovery.

In such rehabilitation, a repetition of the movement is limited due totherapist's physical limit. Further, a difference might be caused in amedical care quality of the rehabilitation according to therapist'sexperience. Therefore, for example, an upper limb training apparatus forsupporting rehabilitation on a patient whose limb, such as an arm, isphysically disabled is described in WO 2012/117488 A in order to supporttraining provided by a therapist, eliminate restriction due to fatigueand normalize medical care quality as possible. This apparatus includesa stationary frame that can be arranged on a floor surface, a movableframe supported to the stationary frame so as to be capable of tiltingin an omnidirectional way, and an operating rod that is telescopicallyattached to the movable frame and is manipulated by a person whoundergoes training.

In the training apparatus disclosed in WO 2012/117488 A, a motion rangeof the operating rod (an operating rod mobile region) is set so that apatient does not fall from a chair during the training. In aconventional training apparatus, a motion speed of the operating rod is0 at a time point when the operating rod arrives at a boundary of theoperating rod mobile region.

For this reason, in a conventional training apparatus, when the patientmoves the operating rod to the boundary of the operating rod mobileregion, the operating rod exerts an impact on the patient's limb. Suchan impact exerted on patient's limb from the operating rod is notpreferable from a viewpoint of motor function recovery of the limb.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, in a training apparatus for traininga limb, when an operating rod arrives at a boundary of an operating rodmobile region, an impact is restrained from being exerted on the limband the operating rod is restrained from moving outside the mobileregion.

A plurality of modes are described below. These modes can form anycombinations as necessary. A training apparatus according to one aspectof the present invention is a training apparatus for training apatient's four limbs including upper limbs and/or lower limbs accordingto a predetermined training program. The training apparatus includes anoperating rod, a strength detector, a motion position detector, astrength speed calculator, a boundary line arrival speed calculator, anda motion speed calculator.

The operating rod is supported to a stationary frame placed on a floorsurface or near the floor surface so as to be movable at 1 or moredegrees of freedom. Further, the operating rod moves a held limb. Thestrength detector detects a strength component and outputs a strengthcomponent signal based on a magnitude of the detected strengthcomponent. The strength component is a component in each freedom degreedirection of a strength applied to the operating rod at which theoperating rod is movable. The motion position detector detects a motionposition of the operating rod. The motion position of the operating rodis a position of the operating rod in each related freedom degreedirection at which the operating rod is movable.

The strength speed calculator calculates a strength speed of theoperating rod based on the strength component signal output from thestrength detector. The boundary line arrival speed calculator calculatesa boundary line arrival speed whose absolute value is smaller as aboundary line distance is shorter. The boundary line distance is adistance from a current motion position of the operating rod to a mobileregion boundary line. The mobile region boundary line is a boundary linefor setting a boundary of the operating rod mobile region. The operatingrod mobile region is a region for setting a movable range of theoperating rod.

The motion speed calculator calculates the lower one of the strengthspeed and the boundary line arrival speed as a motion speed. The motionspeed is a speed at which the operating rod should operate.

In the training apparatus, first, the motion position detector detects acurrent motion position of the operating rod, and the strength detectordetects a strength. After the current motion position and the strengthare detected, the strength speed calculator calculates a strength speedbased on the strength component signal, and the boundary line arrivalspeed calculator calculates a boundary line arrival speed based on theboundary line distance. Thereafter, the motion speed calculatorcalculates the lower one of the strength speed and the boundary linearrival speed as a motion speed.

In the training apparatus, the boundary line arrival speed whoseabsolute value is smaller as the boundary line distance is shorter, andthe strength speed based on the strength are calculated, and the lowerone of the boundary line arrival speed and the strength speed isselected as the motion speed of the operating rod. That is, the motionspeed of the operating rod is limited to the lowest one of thecalculated speed components. Further, the motion speed is limited by theboundary line arrival speed whose absolute value is smaller as theboundary line distance is shorter particularly near the mobile regionboundary line. As a result, when the operating rod arrives at the mobileregion boundary line, the operating rod can be restrained from abruptlystopping to exert an impact on the limb and the operating rod can berestrained from moving outside the operating rod mobile region.

Further, when the lower one of the strength speed and the boundary linearrival speed is selected as the motion speed, the motion speed can besmoothly switched from the strength speed into the boundary line arrivalspeed (or vice versa). As a result, the motion speed of the operatingrod can be switched without exerting an impact on the limb.

The motion speed may be limited to a maximum motion speed or less. Themaximum motion speed is a speed for determining an upper limit value ofthe motion speed of the operating rod. As a result, the operating rodcan be restrained from moving at an excessively high speed.

When a determination is made that the current motion position of theoperating rod is present outside the operating rod mobile region, themotion speed calculator may calculate a motion speed including a speedcomponent directing toward a motion position reference point. The motionposition reference point is a reference point of the motion position ofthe operating rod. As a result, the operating rod can be restrained frommoving further outside the operating rod mobile region, and theoperating rod can be restrained from being disabled with the currentmotion position of the operating rod being present outside the operatingrod mobile region. Further, the operating rod outside the operating rodmobile region is returned into the operating rod mobile region.

According to the above modes, in the training apparatus, when theoperating rod arrives at the boundary of the operating rod mobileregion, an impact can be restrained from being exerted on the limb andthe operating rod can be restrained from moving outside the operatingrod mobile region.

These and other elements, features, steps, characteristics andadvantages of the present invention will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description of various embodiments of the inventionwith reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an entire configuration of a trainingapparatus;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an entire configuration of a controllerand an operating rod tilting mechanism in a stationary frame;

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an operating rod mobileregion;

FIG. 4A is a sectional view taken along plane A-A′ of the operating rodtilting mechanism and a strength detecting mechanism;

FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the operatingrod tilting mechanism and the strength detecting mechanism when a forceis applied to an operating rod;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the operating rod;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an entire configuration of thecontroller;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a command creatingunit;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a first commandcalculator of the training apparatus according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating a method for calculatinga boundary line arrival speed;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a motionposition of the operating rod and the boundary line arrival speed to becalculated;

FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating a method for calculatinga central direction speed;

FIG. 12A is a flowchart illustrating a basic operation of the trainingapparatus;

FIG. 12B is a flowchart illustrating a motion of a first motion mode;

FIG. 12C is a flowchart illustrating a method for calculating a motionspeed of the operating rod in the training apparatus according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the motionspeed and the motion position of the operating rod in the operating rodmobile region;

FIG. 14A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a speed componentcalculator of the training apparatus according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 14B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a motion speedcalculator of the training apparatus according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 15A is a diagram schematically illustrating a method forcalculating a boundary direction speed;

FIG. 15B is a flowchart illustrating a method for calculating theboundary direction speed;

FIG. 16A is a flowchart illustrating a method for calculating a firstsynthesis speed in a first speed component synthesizing unit;

FIG. 16B is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a firstsynthesis coefficient and a second synthesis coefficient and a distancefrom a motion position reference point to the motion position;

FIG. 17A is a flowchart illustrating a method for calculating a speed ina second speed component synthesizing unit;

FIG. 17B is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a thirdsynthesis coefficient and a fourth synthesis coefficient and a distancefrom the motion position reference point to a predicted motion position;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a method for calculating a speed ina third speed component synthesizing unit;

FIG. 19 is a diagram schematically illustrating one example when theboundary direction speed is calculated as a small value;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a method for calculating the motionspeed in the training apparatus according to the second embodiment; and

FIG. 21 is a diagram schematically illustrating the boundary directionspeed according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 1. First Embodiment

(1) Entire Configuration of Training Apparatus

A training apparatus of the present invention is described below. Anentire configuration of a training apparatus 100 according to a firstembodiment is described first with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is adiagram illustrating the entire configuration of the training apparatus100. The training apparatus 100 is a training apparatus for conductingtraining for the purpose of a motor function recovery of any limb of auser's (patient's) four limbs including upper limbs and/or lower limbsaccording to a predetermined training program. The training apparatus100 mainly includes a stationary frame 1, an operating rod 3, and atraining instructing unit 5. The stationary frame 1 is placed on oradjacent to a floor surface where the training apparatus 100 isinstalled. Further, the stationary frame 1 forms a main body case of thetraining apparatus 100.

The operating rod 3 is mounted to the stationary frame 1 via anoperating rod tilting mechanism 13 (FIG. 2) provided in the stationaryframe 1. As a result, the operating rod 3 can be moved (tilted) in anX-axis direction parallel with a lengthwise direction of the stationaryframe 1 and a Y-axis direction (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) parallel with awidthwise direction of the stationary frame 1 by the operating rodtilting mechanism 13. The operating rod 3 may be moved (tilted) only inthe X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction as needed. In this case,the operating rod 3 can be tilted at 1-degree-of-freedom.

Further, the operating rod 3 may include an expansion mechanism (FIG. 5)in a lengthwise direction of the operating rod 3. At this time, sincethe operating rod 3 is extensible in the lengthwise direction of theoperating rod 3, it can move together with the operating rod tiltingmechanism 13 at two- or three-degree-of-freedom.

Further, the operating rod 3 has a limb supporting member 31 (describedlater) on its upper end. When a patient's limb is supported by the limbsupporting member 31, the operating rod 3 can move the patient's limb.In another manner, the operating rod 3 can be moved by the patient's ownwill.

The training instructing unit 5 is fixed to the stationary frame 1 via afixing member 7. The training instructing unit 5 executes a presettraining program, and determines whether a first motion mode (describedlater) or a second motion mode is executed based on the trainingprogram. The first motion mode is a motion mode for operating theoperating rod 3 based on a strength to be applied to the operating rod 3by the patient. The second motion mode is a motion mode when the motionof the operating rod 3 is specified in the training program.

Further, the training instructing unit 5 provides a training route andan actual training motion of patient's limb according to the presettraining program in a format of visual information or auditoryinformation. As a result, the patient can feed back the training motionset by the training program and the actual motion and simultaneouslytrain the limb. Further, the training instructing unit 5 may notify theuser of arrival at a target tilting angle through the visual informationor the auditory information also when the patient's limb can tilt theoperating rod 3 to a target point (a target tilting angle) indicated bythe training program. As a result, the patient's motivation forcontinuation of the training can be maintained.

As the training instructing unit 5, an integrated computer system thatincludes a display device such as a liquid crystal display, a CPU(Central Processing Unit), storage devices such as a RAM (Random AccessMemory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a hard disc, and an SSD (Solid StateDisk), and an input device such as a touch panel as needed can be used.Further, the training instructing unit 5 may be configured so that thedisplay device is separated from the other computer system. In thiscase, the display device is fixed to the stationary frame 1 via thefixing member 7.

The training program that is executed in the training instructing unit 5has five training modes, for example, (i) a Guided Mode, (ii) anInitiated Mode, (iii) a Step Initiated Mode, (iv) a Follow Assist Mode,and (v) a Free Mode. The Guided Mode is the training mode in which theoperating rod 3 moves a patient's limb to a predetermined direction at aconstant speed regardless of motions of the limb. The Initiated Mode isthe training mode for detecting a power with which the patient tries tomove the operating rod 3 from an initial motion position to a properdirection through the limb with respect to the training route preset bythe training program (referred to also as a haptic trigger), and causingthe operating rod 3 to move the patient's limb to a direction of thepredetermined training route at a constant speed. The Step InitiatedMode is the training mode for causing the operating rod 3 to move thepatient's limb by a constant distance in the training route when thehaptic trigger is detected on a predetermined portion in the trainingroute of the operating rod 3. The Follow Assist Mode is the trainingmode for detecting the haptic trigger with every predetermined periodand changing a speed of the operating rod 3 according to a magnitude ofthe detected haptic trigger. The Free Mode is the training mode foroperating the operating rod 3 following the motion of the patient'slimb.

The Free Mode in the five training modes is included in the first motionmode. On the other hand, the other training modes are included in thesecond motion mode. That is, the first motion mode is the motion modefor determining the motion direction and/or motion speed of theoperating rod 3 based on a motion of the patient's limb (that is, thestrength applied to the operating rod 3 by the patient's limb). On theother hand, in the second motion mode, the strength is detected in aninitial motion, but a main motion of the operating rod 3 (the motiondirection/motion speed) is instructed based on a training instructionspecified in the training program.

The training apparatus 100 may further include a chair 9 on which thepatient sits during the training. The chair 9 is connected to thestationary frame 1 via a chair connecting member 91, so that stabilityof the training apparatus 100 can be secured. Further, the chairconnecting member 91 is fixed with good reproducibility so that thepatient can conduct the training in a consistent position each time.

(2) Configurations of Controller and Operating Rod Tilting Mechanism

I. Entire Configuration

An entire configuration of a controller 11 and the operating rod tiltingmechanism 13 are described below with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is adiagram illustrating the entire configuration of the controller and theoperating rod tilting mechanism in the stationary frame. The controller11 and the operating rod tilting mechanism 13 are disposed in thestationary frame 1. The controller 11 can receive a first motion modeexecuting instruction for executing the first motion mode or a secondmotion mode executing instruction for executing the second motion modefrom the training instructing unit 5.

The controller 11 calculates a first motor control command (describedlater) for operating the operating rod 3 based on the strength appliedto the operating rod 3 by the patient or the like in execution of thefirst motion mode (at the time of receiving the first motion modeexecuting instruction). On the other hand, the controller 11 calculatesa second motor control command based on the training instruction of theoperating rod at the time of executing the second motion mode (at thetime of receiving the second motion mode executing instruction).

Further, the controller 11 is electrically connected to an X-axistilting motor 135 b (described later), a Y-axis tilting motor 135 a(described later), and an expansion motor 359 (FIG. 5), and can supplydriving powers to these motors, respectively. The controller 11,therefore, adjusts the driving powers to be output based on the firstmotor control command or the second motor control command so as to becapable of controlling these motors.

Further, the controller 11 defines an operating rod mobile region MA fordefining a range where the operating rod 3 is movable as illustrated inFIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating the operating rodmobile region MA. In this embodiment, the operating rod mobile region MAis a region within a circle with a radius r about a position where theoperating rod 3 is present (a motion position reference point O(described later)) when the operating rod 3 does not tilt, and thisregion is defined so that the operating rod 3 can move (tilt) within arange smaller than the radius r in a forward direction of the X-axisdirection (in FIG. 3, a direction where the training instructing unit 5is installed). Further, on the operating rod mobile region MA, a mobileregion boundary line B for defining a boundary line of the operating rodmobile region MA is defined.

In this embodiment, the controller 11 controls the motors according towhether the motion position of the operating rod 3 is the radius r orless (in the forward direction of the X-axis direction, a predeterminedvalue smaller than the radius r or less), or the radius r or more (inthe forward direction of the X-axis direction, a predetermined valuesmaller than the radius r or more) so that the operating rod 3 makes apredetermined motion. As a result, the controller 11 can operate theoperating rod 3 in a range where the patient does not feel a pain.

The operating rod mobile region MA can be a region having any shapeother than the circular shape. Further, the operating rod mobile regionMA may be expressed as a function on an X-Y-Z coordinate (an inequalityexpressing the region), or may be defined by some coordinate points fordetermining a boundary of the operating rod mobile region MA. Further,the radius, the function and/or the coordinate value that defines theoperating rod mobile region MA may be stored in a storage device of amicrocomputer system (described later) configuring the controller 11.

In this embodiment, the operating rod mobile region MA is realized bysoftware. However, the operating rod mobile region MA is not limited tothis, and may be mechanically realized by using a switch or the like.The detailed configuration and operation of the controller 11 aredescribed later.

The operating rod tilting mechanism 13 is mounted to the stationaryframe 1 via operating rod tilting mechanism fixing members 15 a and 15 bfixed to the stationary frame 1 so as to be capable of tilting. For thisreason, the operating rod tilting mechanism 13 can operate (tilt) to theY-axis direction (described later) with respect to the stationary frame1. A configuration of the operating rod tilting mechanism 13 isdescribed in detail below.

II. Configuration of Operating Rod Tilting Mechanism

The configuration of the operating rod tilting mechanism 13 according tothis embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 2. The operating rodtilting mechanism 13 can tilt the operating rod 3 in the X-axisdirection and the Y-axis direction using a “gimbal” mechanism thatenables tilting on two axes. The X-axis direction is a verticaldirection parallel with the X-axis in the vertical direction of FIG. 2.The Y-axis direction is a horizontal direction parallel with the Y-axisin the horizontal direction of FIG. 2.

The operating rod tilting mechanism 13 has an X-axis tilting member 131,a Y-axis tilting member 133, the X-axis tilting motor 135 b and theY-axis tilting motor 135 a corresponding to the tilting members 131 and133, respectively, and a strength detecting mechanism 17 (FIG. 2, andFIG. 4A to FIG. 43).

The X-axis tilting member 131 is disposed inside a space of the Y-axistilting member 133 (described later). Further, the X-axis tilting member131 has two axes 131 a and 131 b extending outside from two sidesurfaces having a normal line parallel with the Y axis. The two axes 131a and 131 b are supported to two side surfaces having the normal lineparallel with the Y axis of the Y-axis tilting member 133, respectively,so that the X-axis tilting member 131 can turn about the Y axis.

On the other hand, the Y-axis tilting member 133 has two axes 133 a and133 b that extend outside from the two side surfaces having a normalline parallel with the X axis. The two axes 133 a and 133 b aresupported to operating rod tilting mechanism fixing members 15 a and 15b, respectively, so that the Y-axis tilting member 133 can turn aboutthe X axis.

The X-axis tilting member 131 can tilt in the X-axis direction withrespect to the Y-axis tilting member 133 and the Y-axis tilting member133 can tilt in the Y-axis direction with respect to the operating rodtilting mechanism fixing members 15 a and 15 b, such that the operatingrod tilting mechanism 13 can operate (tilt) at two-dimensional(occasionally one-dimensional) degree of freedom with respect to thestationary frame 1.

In FIG. 2, the X-axis tilting member 131 is disposed inside the space ofthe Y-axis tilting member 133. However, a design may be changed suchthat the X-axis tilting member 131 is disposed outside the space of theY-axis tilting member 133 and a corresponding member can tilt.

The Y-axis tilting motor 135 a is fixed to the operating rod tiltingmechanism fixing member 15 a. Further, an output rotational shaft of theY-axis tilting motor 135 a is connected to the axis 133 a extended fromthe Y-axis tilting member 133 via a deceleration mechanism, notillustrated, so as to be capable of turning about the axis 133 a.

The X-axis tilting motor 135 b is fixed to a side surface that pivotallysupports the axis 131 a extending from the X-axis tilting member 131.Further, an output rotational shaft of the X-axis tilting motor 135 b isconnected to the axis 131 a extended from the X-axis tilting member 131via the deceleration mechanism, not illustrated, so as to be capable ofturning about the axis 131 a.

The Y-axis tilting motor 135 a and the X-axis tilting motor 135 b arecontrolled by the supply of the driving powers from the controller 11.Therefore, the Y-axis tilting motor 135 a and the X-axis tilting motor135 b can tilt the operating rod 3 in the Y-axis direction and theX-axis direction at 2-degree-of-freedom based on the driving powerscalculated by a motor control command.

Electric motors such as servomotors or brushless motors can be used asthe Y-axis tilting motor 135 a and the X-axis tilting motor 135 b.

When the operating rod tilting mechanism 13 tilts the operating rod 3 at1-degree-of-freedom, the operating rod tilting mechanism 13 needs toinclude only the X-axis tilting member 131 and the X-axis tilting motor135 b, or the Y-axis tilting member 133 and the Y-axis tilting motor 135a. In another manner, even when the operating rod tilting mechanism 13includes the above two members and two motors, a combination of anymember and any motor is disabled so that the operating rod tiltingmechanism 13 can tilt the operating rod 3 at 1-degree-of-freedom.

A strength detecting mechanism 17 detects the power (strength) appliedto the operating rod 3 as a tilt angle of the strength detectingmechanism 17 with respect to the X-axis tilting member 131. The strengthdetecting mechanism 17, then, converts the detected tilt angle into anelectric signal (the strength component signal (described later)) so asto output the electric signal. A configuration of the strength detectingmechanism 17 is described in detail below.

III. Configuration of Strength Detecting Mechanism

The detailed configuration of the strength detecting mechanism 17 isdescribed with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4A. FIG. 4A is a sectionalview of the operating rod tilting mechanism 13 and the strengthdetecting mechanism 17 on a plane A-A′. As illustrated in FIG. 2, thestrength detecting mechanism 17 can tilt the operating rod 3 in theX-axis direction and the Y-axis direction through the “gimbal” mechanismthat enables the motions on the two axes similarly to the operating rodtilting mechanism 13. For this reason, the strength detecting mechanism17 has a Y-axis strength detecting member 171, an X-axis strengthdetecting member 173, an Y-axis strength detector 175, an X-axisstrength detector 177, and an energizing member 179.

The Y-axis strength detecting member 171 has two axes 171 a and 171 bextending to an outside from the two side surfaces having the normalline parallel with the X axis, respectively. The two axes 171 a and 171b are supported to the X-axis tilting member 131 so as to be capable ofturning about the X axis. The X-axis strength detecting member 173 hastwo axes 173 a and 173 b extending to an outside from the two sidesurfaces having the normal line parallel with the Y axis. The two axes173 a and 173 b are supported to the Y-axis strength detecting member171 so as to be capable of turning about the Y axis.

The Y-axis strength detecting member 171 is supported to the X-axistilting member 131 so as to be capable of turning about the X axis andthe X-axis strength detecting member 173 is supported to the Y-axisstrength detecting member 171 so as to be capable of turning about the Yaxis, so that the strength detecting mechanism 17 can tilt in the X-axisdirection and the Y-axis direction with respect to the operating rodtilting mechanism 13.

The Y-axis strength detector 175 has a rotatable axis (rotationalshaft), and outputs a signal (the strength component signal) based on arotation amount of the rotational axis. The Y-axis strength detector 175is fixed to the X-axis tilting member 131 so that the rotational axismatches the axis 171 a or 171 b of the Y-axis strength detecting member171. The X-axis strength detector 177 has a rotatable axis (a rotationalaxis), and outputs a signal (the strength component signal) based on therotation amount of the rotational axis. The X-axis strength detector 177is fixed to the Y-axis strength detecting member 171 so that therotational axis matches the axis 173 a or 173 b of the X-axis strengthdetecting member 173.

With the above configuration, the Y-axis strength detector 175 and theX-axis strength detector 177 can detect a tilt angle of the Y-axisstrength detecting member 171 with respect to the X-axis tilting member131 and a tilt angle of the X-axis strength detecting member 173 withrespect to the Y-axis strength detecting member 171.

The tilt angle of the Y-axis strength detecting member 171 with respectto the X-axis tilting member 131 corresponds to a tilt angle of thestrength detecting mechanism 17 in the Y-axis direction with respect tothe operating rod tilting mechanism 13. Further, the tilt angle of theX-axis strength detecting member 173 with respect to the Y-axis strengthdetecting member 171 corresponds to a tilt angle of the strengthdetecting mechanism 17 in the X-axis direction with respect to theoperating rod tilting mechanism 13.

As the Y-axis strength detector 175 and the X-axis strength detector177, for example, potentiometers for detecting an axial rotation can beused. Potentiometers for detecting the axial rotation may include, forexample, reference electrodes and measurement electrodes, whereinreference voltages (or reference currents) are applied between thereference electrodes. In this state, when a rotational axis of eachpotentiometer rotates, a voltage according to a rotation amount of theaxis of each potentiometer is generated on the measurement electrodes.That is, each potentiometer can detect the tilt angle of the strengthdetecting mechanism 17 with respect to the operating rod tiltingmechanism as a voltage change.

The energizing member 179 includes, for example, a plurality ofcircular-spiral leaf springs. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, a connectingend provided to a center of the spring spiral configuring the energizingmember 179 is fixed to an energizing member fixing section 173-1provided to a center of the X-axis strength detecting member 173.Further, a connecting end provided to an outermost peripheral portion ofthe spiral spring configuring the energizing member 179 is fixed to anenergizing member fixing section 131-1 provided to the X-axis tiltingmember 131.

The X-axis tilting member 131 and the X-axis strength detecting member173 are connected via the energizing member 179, so that the strengthdetecting mechanism 17 can follow the tilting of the operating rodtilting mechanism 13 and tilt.

Further, the operating rod 3 is inserted into a space S provided in theX-axis strength detecting member 173, and is fixed to the X-axisstrength detecting member 173. As a result, the operating rod 3 followsthe tilt of the operating rod tilting mechanism 13 so as to be capableof operating (tilting) at 2-degree-of-freedom via the strength detectingmechanism 17.

A principle such that the strength detecting mechanism 17 having theabove configuration detects the strength to be applied to the operatingrod 3 is described. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, for example, a force of aright direction in the Y-axis direction on a paper is applied to theoperating rod 3. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a relationshipbetween the operating rod tilting mechanism and the strength detectingmechanism when the force is applied to the operating rod.

When the force of the Y-axis direction is applied to the operating rod3, the Y-axis strength detecting member 171 and the X-axis strengthdetecting member 173 tilt in the Y-axis direction with respect to theX-axis tilting member 131 according to the force, so that the energizingmember 179 is deformed. Specifically, when a radius of the energizingmember 179 when the force is not applied to the operating rod 3 isdenoted as d₁, a left portion of the energizing member 179 on the paperwith respect to the energizing member fixing section 173-1 is compressedby the energizing member fixing section 173-1 of the X-axis strengthdetecting member 173, so that a length of the energizing member 179becomes shorter than the radius d₁. On the other hand, a right portionon the paper with respect to the energizing member fixing section 173-1is extended by the energizing member fixing section 173-1 of the X-axisstrength detecting member 173, and thus the length becomes larger thanthe radius d₁.

Due to the deformation of the energizing member 179, the Y-axis strengthdetecting member 171 of the strength detecting mechanism 17 is displacedin a clockwise direction by a tilt angle θ_(F) with respect to theX-axis tilting member 131 of the operating rod tilting mechanism 13.When the strength to be applied to the operating rod 3 is balanced withthe energizing force caused by the deformation of the energizing member179, the tilt angle θ_(F) obtains a constant value.

Therefore, the tilt angle θ_(F) (a rotation amount of the axis 171 a) isdetected as a voltage signal by the Y-axis strength detector 175, sothat a strength component in the Y-axis direction applied to theoperating rod 3 can be output as the strength component signal.

On the other hand, when the force in the X-axis direction is applied tothe operating rod 3, the X-axis strength detecting member 173 tilts withrespect to the Y-axis strength detecting member 171 so that the biasingforce caused by the deformation of the energizing member 179 is balancedwith the force in the X-axis direction, and thus tilts with respect tothe X-axis tilting member 131. When the force in the X-axis direction isapplied to the operating rod 3, the Y-axis strength detecting member 171does not change the tilt angle with respect to the X-axis tilting member131. This is because the Y-axis strength detecting member 171 ispivotally supported to the X-axis tilting member 131 so as to be capableof turning about the X axis.

Therefore, the tilt angle of the X-axis strength detecting member 173with respect to the Y-axis strength detecting member 171 when the forceis applied in the X-axis direction becomes the tilt angle of the X-axisstrength detecting member 173 with respect to the X-axis tilting member131. Therefore, the tilt angle of the X-axis strength detecting member173 with respect to the Y-axis strength detecting member 171 is detectedby the X-axis strength detector 177, so that a strength component in theX-axis direction can be measured as the strength component signal.

An actual strength component can be calculated from the strengthcomponent signal based on a relationship between a deformation magnitudeof the energizing member 179 and the strength to be applied to theoperating rod 3. The deformation magnitude of the energizing member 179and the strength to be applied to the operating rod 3 generallyestablish a proportional relationship, but not limited to theproportional relationship, and can establish any relationship accordingto characteristics of the energizing member 179.

Further, when the strength that is not parallel with the X-axisdirection or the Y-axis direction is applied to the operating rod 3, theY-axis strength detector 175 and the X-axis strength detector 177 detecta Y-axis component (the Y-axis strength component) and an X-axiscomponent (the X-axis strength component) of the strength applied to theoperating rod 3, respectively. The Y-axis strength detector 175 and theX-axis strength detector 177 output the strength component signals basedon magnitudes of the detected strength components. Since the strengthdetecting mechanism 17 has the two strength detectors, the strengthdetecting mechanism 17 can detect the strength in any direction on theX-Y plane.

(3) Configuration of Operating Rod

I. Entire Configuration

The configuration of the operating rod 3 is described below withreference to FIG. 5. The entire configuration of the operating rod 3 isdescribed first. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration ofthe operating rod. The operating rod 3 includes a limb supporting member31, a fixing stay 33, an expansion mechanism 35, and a lengthwisestrength detecting mechanism 39. The limb supporting member 31 is fixedto an upper end of a cover 353 (described later) of the expansionmechanism 35. The limb supporting member 31 supports a patient's limb.

The fixing stay 33 forms a main body of the operating rod 3. Further,the fixing stay 33 has a space S′ where a movable stay 351 (describedlater) of the expansion mechanism 35 is housed. Further, the fixing stay33 is fixed to an operating rod fixing section of the X-axis strengthdetecting member 173.

The expansion mechanism 35 is provided to the fixing stay 33 so as to bemovable along a lengthwise direction of the fixing stay 33. As a result,the operating rod 3 is extensible along the lengthwise direction of theoperating rod 3. A configuration of the expansion mechanism 35 isdescribed in detail later.

The lengthwise strength detecting mechanism 39 detects a strengthapplied in the lengthwise direction of the operating rod 3 by apatient's limb. Specifically, a lengthwise strength detector 393 (inthis embodiment, a linear motion potentiometer) detects an extendedlength ΔL of the energizing member 391 (for example, a spring) one endof which is fixed to the cover 353 and the other end of which is fixedto the movable stay 351, and the lengthwise strength detecting mechanism39 detects the strength in the lengthwise direction.

When the lengthwise strength detector 393 includes the linear motionpotentiometer, the lengthwise strength component signal expressing thestrength component in the lengthwise direction is obtained as an outputvoltage from the linear motion potentiometer that changes according tothe extended length ΔL of the energizing member 391.

II. Configuration of Expansion Mechanism

The configuration of the expansion mechanism 35 is described below withreference to FIG. 5. The expansion mechanism 35 has the movable stay351, the cover 353, a nut 355, a screw shaft 357, and the expansionmotor 359. The movable stay 351 is inserted into the space S′ providedin the fixing stay 33. Further, the movable stay 351 has a slide unitthat is slidably engaged with a guide rail 37 provided to an inner wallof the fixing stay 33. The cover 353 is fixed to an upper end of themovable stay 351 via the energizing member 391 of the lengthwisestrength detecting mechanism 39. Further, the cover 353 has the limbsupporting member 31 at an upper end.

The nut 355 is mounted to a bottom portion of the movable stay 351. Thescrew shaft 357 (described later) is screwed into the nut 355. The screwshaft 357 is a member that extends parallel with the lengthwisedirection of the fixing stay 33 and is provided with a screw thread.

The expansion motor 359 is fixed to the bottom portion of the fixingstay 33. Further, an output rotational shaft of the expansion motor 359is connected to one end of the screw shaft 357 in the lengthwisedirection so as to be rotatable about the screw shaft 357. Further, theexpansion motor 359 is electrically connected to the controller 11. Theexpansion motor 359 is, therefore, driven by the driving power outputfrom the controller 11. Since the expansion mechanism 35 has the aboveconfiguration, the screw shaft 357 is rotated about the axis by theexpansion motor 359 so that the movable stay 351 is movable along thelengthwise direction of the fixing stay 33.

(4) Configuration of Controller

I. Entire Configuration

An entire configuration of the controller 11 is described below withreference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the entireconfiguration of the controller. As the controller 11, a microcomputersystem having, for example, a CPU, a storage device such as a RAM, aROM, a hard disc device, or an SSD, and an interface for converting anelectric signal can be used. Some or all of functions of the controller11 described below may be realized as programs that can be executed inthe microcomputer system. The programs may be stored in the storagedevice of the microcomputer system. Further, some or all of thefunctions of the controller 11 may be realized by a custom IC. Thecontroller 11 has a command creating unit 111, and motor controllers 113a, 113 b and 113 c.

The command creating unit 111 can input a Y-axis strength componentsignal representing the strength component in the Y-axis direction, anX-axis strength component signal representing the strength component inthe X-axis direction, and a lengthwise strength component signalrepresenting a strength component in the lengthwise direction of theoperating rod 3 from the Y-axis strength detector 175, the X-axisstrength detector 177, and the lengthwise strength detector 393,respectively. Further, the command creating unit 111 can input signalsfrom a first motion position detector 135 a-1, a second motion positiondetector 135 b-1, and a third motion position detector 359-1.

The motion position detectors are fixed to the output rotational shaftof the Y-axis tilting motor 135 a, the output rotational shaft of theX-axis tilting motor 135 b, and the output rotational shaft of theexpansion motor 359, respectively, and output rotation amounts of theoutput rotational shafts of the respective motors. That is, the motionposition detectors detect motion positions in freedom degree directionswhere the operating rod 3 is movable, respectively.

Specifically, the first motion position detector 135 a-1 detects themotion position (the tilt angle) of the operating rod 3 in the Y-axisdirection based on the rotation amount of the Y-axis tilting motor 135a. The second motion position detector 135 b-1 detects the motionposition (the tilt angle) of the operating rod 3 in the X-axis directionbased on the rotation amount of the X-axis tilting motor 135 b. Thethird motion position detector 359-1 detects the motion position of theoperating rod 3 in the lengthwise direction based on a rotation amountof the expansion motor 359.

Encoders such as incremental encoders or absolute encoders can be usedsuitably as the motion position detectors. The encoders output pulsesignals according to the rotation amounts of the corresponding motors.

The command creating unit 111 can receive the first motion modeexecuting instruction or the second motion mode executing instructionfrom the training instructing unit 5, and outputs either the first motorcontrol command (described later) or the second motor control command(described later) according to the received executing instructions. Theconfiguration of the command creating unit 111 is described in detaillater.

The motor controllers 113 a, 113 b and 113 c can input the motor controlcommands from the command creating unit 111, respectively, and calculatethe driving powers of the motors based on the input motor controlcommands. The motor controllers 113 a, 113 b and 113 c supply thecalculated driving powers to the Y-axis tilting motor 135 a, the X-axistilting motor 135 b, and the expansion motor 359, respectively.

Further, the motor controllers 113 a, 113 b and 113 c can input therotation amounts of the corresponding motors from the first motionposition detector 135 a-1, the second motion position detector 135 b-1,and the third motion position detector 359-1, respectively, and cancontrol the motors in view of the rotation amounts of the motors.Therefore, for example, a motor control device using a feedback controltheory can be used as the motor controllers 113 a, 113 b and 113 c.

Since the controller 11 has the above configuration, the controller 11can output a suitable motor control command (the first motor controlcommand or the second motor control command) according to a motion modeexecuting instruction input from the training instructing unit 5 tocontrol the motors. As a result, the operating rod 3 can suitably moveaccording to the motion mode currently being executed.

II. Configuration of Command Creating Unit

The configuration of the command creating unit 111 is described belowwith reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating theconfiguration of the command creating unit. The command creating unit111 has a first command calculator 1111, a second command calculator1113, and a control command switching unit 1115.

The first command calculator 1111 can input the strength componentsignal and the motion position of the operating rod 3 from each of thestrength detectors and each of the motion position detectors. The firstcommand calculator 1111 calculates the first motor control command basedon the input strength component signal and/or the motion position of theoperating rod 3. The configuration of the first command calculator 1111is described in detail later.

The second command calculator 1113 can input a training instructionspecified in the training program from the training instructing unit 5,and calculates the second motor control command based on the inputtraining instruction.

The control command switching unit 1115 has two inputs e and f, and oneoutput g. The first motor control command is input into the input e fromthe first command calculator 1111, and the second motor control commandis input into the input f from the second command calculator 1113.Further, the output g is connected to the motor controllers 113 a, 113 band 113 c. When the control command switching unit 1115 receives thefirst motion mode executing instruction from the training instructingunit 5, the output g is connected to the input e. On the other hand,when the control command switching unit 1115 receives the second motionmode executing instruction from the training instructing unit 5, theoutput g is connected to the input f.

This configuration enables the command creating unit 111 to select andoutput the first motor control command to the motor controllers 113 a,113 b and 113 c when the first motion mode is executed, and to selectand output the second motor control command to the motor controllers 113a, 113 b and 113 c when the second motion mode is executed. As a result,the respective motors are controlled by the suitable motor controlcommand according to the motion mode currently being executed. As aresult, the operating rod 3 can suitably move according to the motionmode currently being executed.

III. Configuration of First Command Calculator

The configuration of the first command calculator 1111 is describedbelow with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating theconfiguration of the first command calculator of the training apparatusaccording to the first embodiment. The first command calculator 1111 hasa speed component calculator 1111-1, a motion speed calculator 1111-3,and a first motor control command calculator 1111-5.

The speed component calculator 1111-1 can input the strength componentsignals from the three strength detectors and the motion positions ofthe operating rod 3 from the three motion position detectors. The speedcomponent calculator 1111-1 calculates a plurality of speed componentswith different characteristics based on the strength component signalsand/or the motion positions of the operating rod 3. A configuration ofthe speed component calculator 1111-1, and the speed componentscalculated in this embodiment are described in detail later.

The motion speed calculator 1111-3 can input the plurality of speedcomponents calculated by the speed component calculator 1111-1, andsynthesizes the plurality of speed components based on a predeterminedcondition, so as to calculate the motion speed of the operating rod 3.The configuration of the motion speed calculator 1111-3 in thisembodiment is described in detail below.

The first motor control command calculator 1111-5 can input the motionspeed of the operating rod 3 from the motion speed calculator 1111-3,and calculates the first motor control command based on the input motionspeed.

The above configuration enables the first command calculator 1111 tocalculate the suitable motion speed of the operating rod 3 by using theplurality of speed components based on a predetermined condition, and tocalculate the first motor control command based on the calculated motionspeed.

IV. Configuration of Speed Component Calculator

The configuration of the speed component calculator 1111-1 according tothis embodiment is described below with reference to FIG. 8. The speedcomponent calculator 1111-1 has a strength speed calculator 1111-11, aboundary line arrival speed calculator 1111-13, and a central directionspeed calculator 1111-15.

The strength speed calculator 1111-11 can input the strength componentsignals output from the three strength detectors, and calculates astrength speed of the operating rod 3 based on the strength componentsignals. In this embodiment, the strength speed is calculated as a speedthat is linearly increased with respect to an increase in the strengthapplied to the operating rod 3. However, not limited to this, thestrength speed may be calculated as any function with respect to thestrength according to the motion of the operating rod 3.

The boundary line arrival speed calculator 1111-13 can input the motionpositions of the operating rod 3 from the three motion positiondetectors. The boundary line arrival speed calculator 1111-13 calculatesa boundary line arrival speed based on a distance from a current motionposition of the operating rod 3 to the mobile region boundary line B ofthe operating rod mobile region MA illustrated in FIG. 3. The distancefrom the current motion position of the operating rod 3 to the mobileregion boundary line B is referred to as “a boundary line distance”.

The boundary line arrival speed calculator 1111-13 calculates a speed,whose absolute value becomes smaller as the boundary line distance isshorter, as the boundary line arrival speed. That is, the boundary linearrival speed calculator 1111-13 calculates the speed, at which theoperating rod 3 is moved more slowly as the motion position of theoperating rod 3 is closer to the mobile region boundary line B, as theboundary line arrival speed.

The central direction speed calculator 1111-15 inputs the motionpositions of the operating rod 3 from the three motion positiondetectors, and when the current motion position of the operating rod 3is out of the operating rod mobile region MA, the central directionspeed calculator 1111-15 calculates a central direction speed.

The central direction speed is a speed component for causing the motionposition of the operating rod 3 to be directed toward a reference point.That is, the central direction speed is a speed at which the operatingrod 3 is moved to the reference point of the motion position. Thereference point of the motion position of the operating rod 3 isoccasionally referred to as “the motion position reference point O”. Inthis embodiment, the motion position reference point O is a point atwhich the tilt angle (motion position) of the operating rod 3 is 0.

The above configuration enables the speed component calculator 1111-1 tocalculate three kinds of speeds including the strength speed thatlinearly increases with respect to the increase in the strength, theboundary line arrival speed at which the operating rod 3 is moved moreslowly as approaching the mobile region boundary line B, and the centraldirection speed directed to the motion position reference point as thespeed components.

V. Configuration of Motion Speed Calculator

The configuration of the motion speed calculator 1111-3 according tothis embodiment is described below with reference to FIG. 8. In thisembodiment, the motion speed calculator 1111-3 has a speed componentcomparator 1111-31 and a speed component synthesizing unit 1111-33.

The speed component comparator 1111-31 can input the strength speed andthe boundary line arrival speed from the speed component calculator1111-1, and selects the one of the strength speed and the boundary linearrival speed that is lower (whose absolute value is lower) so as tooutput it.

The speed component synthesizing unit 1111-33 synthesizes the one of thestrength speed and the boundary line arrival speed input from the speedcomponent comparator 1111-31 with the central direction speed input fromthe speed component calculator 1111-1 so as to calculate the motionspeed.

When calculating the motion speed, the speed component synthesizing unit1111-33 synthesizes a maximum motion speed V_(max) with the centraldirection speed when the absolute value of the input strength speed orboundary line arrival speed is larger than the maximum motion speedV_(max), so as to obtain the motion speed. That is, the speed componentsynthesizing unit 1111-33 limits the motion speed of the operating rod 3to the maximum motion speed V_(max) or less.

In the above configuration, when the current motion position of theoperating rod 3 is within the operating rod mobile region MA, the motionspeed calculator 1111-3 outputs the one of the strength speed and theboundary line arrival speed that is lower (whose absolute value islower) as the motion speed of the operating rod 3. On the other hand,when the motion position of the operating rod 3 is outside the operatingrod mobile region MA, the motion speed calculator 1111-3 calculates themotion speed including the central direction speed.

As a result, when the operating rod 3 is near the mobile region boundaryline B within the operating rod mobile region MA, the motion speedcalculator 1111-3 can limit the motion speed of the operating rod 3 to alow speed. On the other hand, when the operating rod 3 is outside theoperating rod mobile region MA, the motion speed calculator 1111-3 cancalculate a speed of the direction in which the operating rod 3 returnsto the operating rod mobile region MA.

As a result, when the operating rod 3 reaches the mobile region boundaryline B within the operating rod mobile region MA, an abrupt stop of theoperating rod 3 and an impact on a limb, or a movement of the operatingrod 3 outside the operating rod mobile region MA due to inertia, can berestrained. Further, even if the operating rod 3 moves outside theoperating rod mobile region MA, the operating rod 3 is returned into theoperating rod mobile region MA.

(5) Operation of Training Apparatus

The operation of the training apparatus 100 according to this embodimentis described below. A method for calculating the boundary line arrivalspeed in the boundary line arrival speed calculator 1111-13 and a methodfor calculating the central direction speed in the central directionspeed calculator 1111-15 are described.

I. Method for Calculating Boundary Line Arrival Speed

The method for calculating the boundary line arrival speed in theboundary line arrival speed calculator 1111-13 is described withreference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating themethod for calculating the boundary line arrival speed. The descriptionwith reference to FIG. 9 refers to a method for calculating a componentof the boundary line arrival speed in the X-axis direction as anexample. The component of the boundary line arrival speed in the Y-axisdirection can be calculated similarly. As to the component of theboundary line arrival speed in the lengthwise direction, the boundaryline arrival speed can be calculated with a middle length between aminimum shortened length and a maximum extended length of the operatingrod 3 being the motion position reference point in the lengthwisedirection in an approximately similar manner as described below.

In order to calculate the boundary line arrival speed, the boundary linearrival speed calculator 1111-13 obtains the current motion position ofthe operating rod 3 from the motion position detector. The currentmotion position of the operating rod 3 is motion position P (X_(P),Y_(P)).

The boundary line arrival speed calculator 1111-13 calculates a boundaryline distance D from a current motion position P of the operating rod 3to the mobile region boundary line B. In this embodiment, the boundaryline distance D in the X-axis direction is a distance between anintersection Q between a straight line that passes through the currentmotion position P and is parallel with the X axis and the mobile regionboundary line B, and an X coordinate value X_(P) of the current motionposition P.

The boundary line arrival speed calculator 1111-13 calculates a specific(X) coordinate value of the intersection Q in the following manner. Asillustrated in FIG. 9, the Y coordinate value of the intersection Q isthe same as the Y coordinate value Y_(P) of the motion position P. Onthe other hand, it is found that the X coordinate value of theintersection Q corresponds to a length of a side OQ′ of a triangle OQQ′formed by the motion position reference point O, the intersection Q, andan intersection Q′ between a perpendicular line drawn from theintersection Q to the X axis and the X axis as illustrated in FIG. 9.

In this embodiment, the operating rod mobile region MA is defined as aregion within a circle with the radius r excluding a predeterminedregion on a minus value side of the X axis (the operating rod mobileregion MA is a ID-shaped region). Further, as illustrated in FIG. 9, alength of a side OQ of the triangle OQQ′ matches the radius r of theoperating rod mobile region MA. Therefore, in the triangle OQQ′, thelength of the side OQ′ is calculated with the length of the side OQbeing denoted as r and the length of the side QQ′ being denoted asY_(P), so that an X coordinate value of the intersection Q can becalculated.

After the X coordinate value of the intersection Q is calculated, theboundary line arrival speed calculator 1111-13 calculates (an absolutevalue of) a difference between the X coordinate value of theintersection Q and the X coordinate value of the motion position P asthe boundary line distance D in the X-axis direction.

The boundary line arrival speed calculator 1111-13 calculates a speeddirected from the current motion position P toward the intersection Q asthe X-axis component of the boundary line arrival speed using thecalculated boundary line distance D. In this embodiment, the boundaryline arrival speed calculator 1111-13 calculates (the X-axis componentof) the boundary line arrival speed so that the operating rod moves fromthe motion position P toward the intersection Q while decelerating at apredetermined constant deceleration.

When the boundary line arrival speed is calculated by using the abovecalculating method, the boundary line arrival speed illustrated in FIG.10 can be calculated. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a relationshipbetween a motion position of the operating rod and the boundary linearrival speed to be calculated.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the boundary line arrival speed calculated byusing the above method is calculated as a speed whose magnitude (anabsolute value) is smaller as the motion position of the operating rod 3(a horizontal axis in FIG. 10) approaches the mobile region boundaryline B (namely, the boundary line distance is shorter) within theoperating rod mobile region MA.

In this embodiment, the boundary line arrival speed is calculated as aformula that is proportional to a square root of the boundary linedistance D (the motion position of the operating rod 3). This is becausethe boundary line arrival speed approaches the mobile region boundaryline B while decreasing at a constant deceleration in this region.

This is more clear also from a formula expressing a relationship among adistance, a speed, an acceleration and a time (since D=at²/2 and V=at,V=SQRT(2aD) (D: the distance, a: the acceleration, V: the speed, t: thetime, SQRT (2aD): a square root of the value 2aD)).

Also when the current motion position P of the operating rod 3 isoutside the operating rod mobile region MA, the boundary line arrivalspeed calculator 1111-13 can calculate the boundary line arrival speedin a direction toward the mobile region boundary line B similarly to theabove.

II. Method for Calculating Central Direction Speed

The method for calculating the central direction speed in the centraldirection speed calculator 1111-15 according to this embodiment isdescribed below with reference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a diagramschematically illustrating the method for calculating the centraldirection speed. The central direction speed is calculated when themotion position P of the operating rod 3 is outside the operating rodmobile region MA as illustrated in FIG. 11. For this reason, the centraldirection speed calculator 1111-15 checks whether the current motionposition P of the operating rod 3 is outside the operating rod mobileregion MA. For example, in FIG. 11, a check is made whether the distancefrom the motion position reference point O to the motion position P isthe radius r of the circle that defines the operating rod mobile regionMA or more, so that the check can be made whether the motion position Pis outside the operating rod mobile region MA.

When the determination is made that the current motion position P of theoperating rod 3 is within the operating rod mobile region MA, thecentral direction speed calculator 1111-15 calculates the centraldirection speed as 0. On the other hand, when the determination is madethat the current motion position P of the operating rod 3 is outside theoperating rod mobile region MA, the central direction speed iscalculated in the following manner.

The central direction speed calculator 1111-15 derives an intersection Rbetween a straight line that passes through the motion positionreference point O and the motion position P (coordinate: (X_(P)′,Y_(P)′)) and the mobile region boundary line B, and calculates a lengthof a line segment PR and a length of a line segment OP. Further, thecentral direction speed calculator 1111-15 calculates a magnitude of acentral direction speed V_(C) (scalar quantity) using the length of theline segment PR according to a formula for calculating the boundary linearrival speed (namely, a formula that is proportional to a square rootof the length of the line segment PR)

After calculating the magnitude of the central direction speed V_(C),the central direction speed calculator 1111-15 calculates the X-axiscomponent V_(CX) and the Y-axis component V_(CY) of the centraldirection speed V_(C). Specifically, the central direction speedcalculator 1111-15 calculates a product of the magnitude of the centraldirection speed V_(C) and a first component ratio as the X-axiscomponent V_(CX) of the central direction speed V_(C). The firstcomponent ratio is a value of a ratio of an X coordinate value X_(P)′ ofthe motion position P to the length of the line segment OP. Further, thecentral direction speed calculator 1111-15 calculates a product of themagnitude of the central direction speed V_(C) and a second componentratio as the Y-axis component V_(CY) of the central direction speed V.The second component ratio is a value of a ratio of a Y coordinate valueY_(P)′ of the motion position P to the length of the line segment OP.

The X-axis component V_(CX) and the Y-axis component V_(CY) of thecentral direction speed V_(C) are calculated as described above, theoperating rod 3 is moved in the X-axis direction at the speed of theX-axis component V_(CX) and is moved in the Y-axis direction at thespeed of the Y-axis component V_(CY). As a result, these speeds aresynthesized, and the operating rod 3 moves from the current motionposition P to the motion position reference point O as illustrated inFIG. 11. In other words, the central direction speed calculator 1111-15calculates the X-axis component V_(CX) and the Y-axis component V_(CY)of the central direction speed V_(C) as described above, so as to becapable of calculating the central direction speed V_(C) (a vectoramount) toward the motion position reference point O.

III. Operation of Training Apparatus

(i) Basic Operation

A basic operation of the training apparatus 100 according to thisembodiment is described below with reference to FIG. 12A. FIG. 12A is aflowchart illustrating the basic operation of the training apparatus.

When the operation of the training apparatus 100 starts, a selection ismade whether the operating rod 3 is moved by the first motion mode orthe operating rod 3 is moved by the second motion mode in the traininginstructing unit 5 (step S1).

Specifically, when the free mode is selected as the training program inthe training instructing unit 5, the first motion mode for causing theoperating rod 3 to move based on the strength applied to the operatingrod 3 is selected as the motion mode. On the other hand, when a modeother than the free mode is selected as the training program in thetraining instructing unit 5, the second motion mode for causing theoperating rod 3 to move based on a training instruction specified by thetraining program is selected as the motion mode.

After the motion mode is selected in the training instructing unit 5,the training instructing unit 5 transmits the first motion modeexecuting instruction to the controller 11 when the first motion mode isselected as the motion mode, and transmits the second motion modeexecuting instruction to the controller 11 when the second motion modeis selected as the motion mode.

When the first motion mode executing instruction is transmitted from thetraining instructing unit 5 (“the first motion mode” at step S1), thecontrol command switching unit 1115 connects the input e to the outputg. As a result, the first motor control command calculated by the firstcommand calculator 1111 is output to the motor controllers 113 a, 113 band 113 c (step S2). That is, the first motion mode is executed in thetraining apparatus 100.

On the other hand, when the controller 11 receives the second motionmode executing instruction from the training instructing unit 5 (“thesecond motion mode” at step S1), the control command switching unit 1115connects the input f to the output g. As a result, the second motorcontrol command calculated by the second command calculator 1113 isoutput to the motor controllers 113 a, 113 b and 113 c (step S3). Thatis, the second motion mode is executed in the training apparatus 100.

The motion mode is suitably selected according to the training program,and a motor control command (the first motor control command or thesecond motor control command) for controlling the operating rod 3(motors 135 a, 135 b and 359) based on the selected motion mode (thefirst motion mode or the second motion mode) is selected, so that thetraining apparatus 100 can suitably operate the operating rod 3according to the training program.

(ii) Operation of Training Apparatus in Execution of First Motion Mode

The operation of the training apparatus 100 at the time of executing thefirst motion mode at step S2 is described below with reference to FIG.12B. FIG. 12B is a flowchart illustrating the first motion mode. Whenthe execution of the first motion mode is started, the first commandcalculator 1111 obtains the current motion positions of the operatingrod 3 in the freedom degree directions from the three motion positiondetectors and the strength component signals (the strength components)in the freedom degree directions from the three strength detectors (stepS21).

Thereafter, the speed component calculator 1111-1 calculates speedcomponents using the current motion positions of the operating rod 3 andthe strength component signals obtained at step S21 (step S22).Specifically, the strength speed calculator 1111-11 calculates thestrength speed based on the strength component signals, and the boundaryline arrival speed calculator 1111-13 calculates the boundary linearrival speed based on the current motion positions of the operating rod3. Further the central direction speed calculator 1111-15 calculates thecentral direction speed. At this time, the speed component calculator1111-1 calculates speed components corresponding to the freedom degreedirections where the operating rod 3 is movable.

The motion speed calculator 1111-3 calculates the motion speed of theoperating rod 3 using three speed components (the strength speed, theboundary line arrival speed, and the central direction speed) calculatedat step S22 (step S23). A method for calculating the motion speed of theoperating rod 3 at step S23 is described in detail later.

After the motion speed calculator 1111-3 calculates the motion speed ofthe operating rod 3, the first motor control command calculator 1111-5calculates the first motor control command based on the motion speed ofthe operating rod 3 input from the motion speed calculator 1111-3 (stepS24). At this time, the first motor control command calculator 1111-5calculates the first motor control commands corresponding to the freedomdegree directions where the operating rod 3 is movable.

After the first motor control command is calculated, the three motorcontrollers 113 a, 113 b and 113 c input the corresponding first motorcontrol commands for controlling the Y-axis tilting motor 135 a, theX-axis tilting motor 135 b, and the expansion motor 359, respectively.The three motor controllers output the driving powers for driving themotors to the corresponding motors, respectively, based on thecorresponding first motor control commands. As a result, the threemotors are controlled based on the first motor control commands (stepS25).

The controller 11 checks whether the first motion mode is ended (stepS26). Specifically, for example, when stop of the execution of the freemode is instructed by the training instructing unit 5, the controller 11determines that the first motion mode is ended.

When the controller 11 determines that the first motion mode is ended(“Yes” at step S26), the controller 11 stops the control of the threemotors so as to stop the execution of the first motion mode. On theother hand, when the controller 11 determines that the first motion modeis being executed (continued) (when “No” at step S26), the operationprocess of the training apparatus 100 returns to S21. That is, thecontroller 11 continues the control of the three motors. As a result,the controller 11 can continuously control the three motors during theexecution of the first motion mode based on the first motor controlcommand.

(iii) Method for Calculating Motion Speed of Operating Rod

The method for calculating the motion speed of the operating rod 3 atstep S23 according to this embodiment is described below with referenceto FIG. 12C. FIG. 12C is a flowchart illustrating the method forcalculating the motion speed of the operating rod in the trainingapparatus according to the first embodiment. When the calculation of themotion speed of the operating rod 3 is started, the speed componentcomparator 1111-31 inputs the strength speed and the boundary linearrival speed from the speed component calculator 1111-1, and comparesmagnitudes (absolute values) of the strength speed and the boundary linearrival speed (step S231).

When the speed component comparator 1111-31 determines that the strengthspeed is higher than the boundary line arrival speed (“Yes” at stepS231), the speed component comparator 1111-31 outputs the boundary linearrival speed to the speed component synthesizing unit 1111-33 (stepS232). On the other hand, when the strength speed is determined as beingthe boundary line arrival speed or less (“No” at step S231), the speedcomponent comparator 1111-31 outputs the strength speed to the speedcomponent synthesizing unit 1111-33 (step S233).

The speed component synthesizing unit 1111-33 checks whether theabsolute value of the input strength speed or the boundary line arrivalspeed is larger than the maximum motion speed V_(max) (step S234). Whenthe absolute value of the strength speed or the boundary line arrivalspeed is larger than the maximum motion speed V_(max) (“Yes” at stepS234), the speed component synthesizing unit 1111-33 selects the maximummotion speed V_(max) as a speed to be synthesized with the centraldirection speed. The speed component synthesizing unit 1111-33synthesizes the maximum motion speed V_(max) with the central directionspeed so as to calculate the motion speed, and outputs the calculatedmotion speed to the first motor control command calculator 1111-5 (stepS236). Thereafter, the calculation of the motion speed is ended.

On the other hand, when the absolute value of the strength speed or theboundary line arrival speed is the maximum motion speed V_(max) or less(“No” at step S234), the speed component synthesizing unit 1111-33selects the strength speed or the boundary line arrival speed as a speedto be synthesized with the central direction speed. The speed componentsynthesizing unit 1111-33 synthesizes the speed selected from thestrength speed or the boundary line arrival speed by executing stepsS231 to S233 with the central direction speed so as to calculate themotion speed, and outputs the calculated motion speed to the first motorcontrol command calculator 1111-5 (step S235). Thereafter, thecalculation of the motion speed is ended.

How the speed to be synthesized with the central direction speed byexecuting steps S231 to S236 changes within the operating rod mobileregion MA is described with reference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a diagramillustrating a relationship between the motion speed and the motionposition of the operating rod in the operating rod mobile region MA.

An example where a force is applied to the operating rod 3 and theoperating rod 3 is moved from the motion position reference point O tothe mobile region boundary line B is considered. In this example, as aresult of applying the force to the operating rod 3, the strength speedillustrated by a dotted line in FIG. 13 is calculated. In FIG. 13, thecalculated boundary line arrival speed is indicated by an alternate longand short dash line, the maximum motion speed V_(max) is indicated by analternate long and two short dashes line, and the actual motion speed ofthe operating rod 3 in the operating rod mobile region MA is indicatedby a solid line.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, both the strength speed and the boundary linearrival speed are calculated as values larger than the maximum motionspeed V_(max) between the motion position reference point O and a motionposition P1. In such a case, the motion speed of the operating rod 3 islimited to the maximum motion speed V_(max). In this embodiment, evenwhen the strength speed and/or the boundary line arrival speed are/iscalculated as the value larger than the maximum motion speed V_(max),the motion speed of the operating rod 3 is limited to the maximum motionspeed V_(max) or less.

After the motion position P1, (the absolute value of) the strength speedis lower than (the absolute value of) the boundary line arrival speedand lower than the maximum motion speed V_(max). Therefore, the strengthspeed is output as the motion speed of the operating rod 3. That is,after the motion position P1, the operating rod 3 is moved based on theforce (strength) applied to the operating rod 3.

Further, (the absolute value of) the boundary line arrival speed islower than (the absolute value of) the strength speed and lower than themaximum motion speed V_(max) in a range from a motion position P_(TH) tothe mobile region boundary line B. For this reason, in the motionposition range, the operating rod 3 moves at the boundary line arrivalspeed. That is, the motion speed of the operating rod 3 is limited bythe boundary line distance D (limited by the boundary line arrivalspeed) near the mobile region boundary line B.

When the force (strength) to be applied to the operating rod 3 isreduced and the calculated strength speed is lower than the boundaryline arrival speed in the range from the motion position P_(TH) to themobile region boundary line B, the strength speed is selected as themotion speed of the operating rod 3. Therefore, the boundary linearrival speed can be said to set an upper limit value of the motionspeed near the mobile region boundary line B.

As described above, particularly when the current motion position P ofthe operating rod 3 is near the mobile region boundary line B, themotion speed of the operating rod 3 is limited by the boundary linedistance D. As a result, even when the force (strength) to be applied tothe operating rod 3 is strong, the abrupt stop of the operating rod 3 onthe mobile region boundary line B can be suppressed. As a result, whenthe operating rod 3 arrives at the mobile region boundary line B, animpact to be exerted on a limb by the operating rod 3 can be reduced.

Further, when the motion speed of the operating rod 3 is limited by theboundary line distance D, the operating rod 3 can be restrained fromapproaching the mobile region boundary line B at a high speed andexceeding the mobile region boundary line B due to inertia to moveoutside the operating rod mobile region MA.

Further, the speed to be synthesized with the central direction speed(the motion speed within the operating rod mobile region MA) is selectedbased on a magnitude relationship between the calculated value of thestrength speed, the calculated value of the boundary line arrival speed,and the maximum motion speed V_(max) (as described above, a minimumvalue of these speeds is selected). As a result, the operating rod 3 isprevented from operating at an excessively high speed, and the motionspeed of the operating rod 3 is prevented from abruptly changing. Forthis reason, when the motion speed is switched, the impact to be exertedon the limb by the operating rod 3 can be reduced.

Further, when the current motion position of the operating rod 3 isoutside the operating rod mobile region MA at step S235 or S236, thespeed component selected at steps S231 to S234 is synthesized with thecentral direction speed that is not 0. As a result, the operating rod 3is quickly returned to the operating rod mobile region MA.

In the operation of the training apparatus 100 according to the firstembodiment described above, the respective steps of the operation may bechanged and/or an executing order of the steps may be changed within thescope of the present invention.

2. Second Embodiment

(1) Configuration of Training Apparatus According to Second Embodiment

The training apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment calculatesthe motion speed obtained by synthesizing the lowest speed componentselected from the strength speed, the boundary line arrival speed, andthe maximum motion speed V_(max) with the central direction speed. Forthis reason, in the training apparatus 100 according to the firstembodiment, the motion speed is calculated so that the motion speed ofthe operating rod 3 becomes lower toward the mobile region boundary lineB and the operating rod 3 stops on the mobile region boundary line B.The motion speed is, however, not limited to this. In a trainingapparatus 200 according to a second embodiment described below, when theoperating rod 3 is near a mobile region boundary line B or on the mobileregion boundary line B, the operating rod 3 is not stopped but theoperating rod 3 is moved along the mobile region boundary line Bdepending on a strength applied to an operating rod 3.

In the training apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment,configurations of a speed component calculator 1111-1′ and a motionspeed calculator 1111-3′ of a first command calculator 1111 aredifferent from the configurations of the speed component calculator1111-1 and the motion speed calculator 1111-3 of the training apparatus100 according to the first embodiment. In the following description,therefore, only the configuration of the speed component calculator1111-1′ and the configuration of the motion speed calculator 1111-3′according to the second embodiment are described, and description of theother configurations is omitted.

I. Configuration of Speed Component Calculator

The configuration of the speed component calculator 1111-1′ of thetraining apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment is describedwith reference to FIG. 14A. FIG. 14A is a diagram illustrating aconfiguration of the speed component calculator of the trainingapparatus according to the second embodiment. The speed componentcalculator 1111-1′ of the training apparatus 200 according to the secondembodiment includes a strength speed calculator 1111-11′, a boundaryline arrival speed calculator 1111-13′, a central direction speedcalculator 1111-15′, a boundary direction speed calculator 1111-17′, anda motion position predicting unit 1111-19′.

Since configurations and functions of the strength speed calculator1111-11′, the boundary line arrival speed calculator 1111-13′, and thecentral direction speed calculator 1111-15′ of the training apparatus200 according to the second embodiment are the same as theconfigurations and functions of the strength speed calculator 1111-11,the boundary line arrival speed calculator 1111-13, and the centraldirection speed calculator 1111-15 according to the first embodiment,description thereof is omitted.

The boundary direction speed calculator 1111-17′ calculates a boundarydirection speed. The boundary direction speed is a speed component alongthe mobile region boundary line B. The boundary direction speedcalculator 1111-17′ inputs a predicted motion position P″ (describedlater) from the motion position predicting unit 1111-19′ (describedlater) and the motion positions of the operating rod 3 from three motionposition detectors, and calculates the boundary direction speed based onthe input predicted motion position P″ and a current motion position Pof the operating rod 3. A method for calculating the boundary directionspeed in the boundary direction speed calculator 1111-17′ is describedin detail later.

The motion position predicting unit 1111-19′ inputs strength componentsignals of corresponding freedom degree directions from three strengthdetectors 175, 177, and 393, and synthesizes the input strengthcomponent signals so as to calculate a resultant strength. The resultantstrength, therefore, corresponds to the strength applied to theoperating rod 3 obtained by synthesizing detected strength components inthe respective freedom degree directions (the X-axis direction, a Y-axisdirection, and a lengthwise direction). That is, the motion positionpredicting unit 1111-19′ calculates the resultant strength (the strengthapplied to the operating rod 3) as a vector quantity, namely, aresultant strength vector F.

Further, the motion position predicting unit 1111-19′ inputs the motionpositions of the operating rod 3 from the three motion positiondetectors, and calculates the predicted motion position P″ based on theresultant strength and the input current motion positions P of theoperating rod 3.

The predicted motion position P″ corresponds to a motion position of theoperating rod 3 where the operating rod 3 is predicted to arrive whenthe resultant strength is applied to the operating rod 3 on the currentmotion positions P of the operating rod 3. A specific method forcalculating the predicted motion position P″ in the motion positionpredicting unit 1111-19′ is described later.

When the speed component calculator 1111-1′ has the boundary directionspeed calculator 1111-17′, the speed component calculator 1111-1′ canfurther calculate the boundary direction speed as a speed component aswell as the strength speed, the boundary line arrival speed, and thecentral direction speed.

II. Configuration of Motion Speed Calculator

The configuration of the motion speed calculator 1111-3′ of the trainingapparatus 200 according to the second embodiment is described below withreference to FIG. 14B. FIG. 14B is a diagram illustrating theconfiguration of the motion speed calculator of the training apparatusaccording to the second embodiment. The motion speed calculator 1111-3′of the training apparatus 200 according to the second embodimentincludes a speed component comparator 1111-31′, a first speed componentsynthesizing unit 1111-33′, a second speed component synthesizing unit1111-35′, and a third speed component synthesizing unit 1111-37′. Sincethe configuration and the function of the speed component comparator1111-31′ are the same as those of the speed component comparator 1111-31in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

The first speed component synthesizing unit 1111-33′ synthesizes anylower one of the strength speed and the boundary line arrival speed,selected by the speed component comparator 1111-31′, with a speed inputfrom the second speed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′ (describedlater) so as to calculate a first synthesis speed. Specifically, thefirst speed component synthesizing unit 1111-33′ synthesizes the lowerone of the strength speed and the boundary line arrival speed with thespeed input from the second speed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′in a first ratio that changes based on the current motion position P ofthe operating rod 3. A specific method for calculating the firstsynthesis speed in the first speed component synthesizing unit 1111-33′is described in detail later.

The second speed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′ synthesizes thestrength speed with the boundary direction speed input from the speedcomponent calculator 1111-1′ in a second ratio that changes based on thepredicted motion position P″ so as to calculate a speed to be output. Amethod for calculating the speed in the second speed componentsynthesizing unit 1111-35′ is described later.

The third speed component synthesizing unit 1111-37′ calculates a finalmotion speed, and outputs it to a first motor control command calculator1111-5. A method for calculating the motion speed in the third speedcomponent synthesizing unit 1111-37′ is described in detail later.

(2) Operation of Training Apparatus According to Second Embodiment

I. Method for Calculating Boundary Direction Speed

The operation of the training apparatus 200 according to the secondembodiment is described below. The method for calculating the boundarydirection speed in the boundary direction speed calculator 1111-17′ isdescribed with reference to FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B. FIG. 15A is a diagramschematically illustrating the method for calculating the boundarydirection speed. FIG. 15B is a flowchart illustrating the method forcalculating the boundary direction speed. The boundary direction speedis calculated specifically in the following manner.

The motion position predicting unit 1111-19′ calculates the resultantstrength (a resultant strength signal), and calculates the predictedmotion position P″ using the calculated resultant strength (step S1001).Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 15A, a terminal position of aresultant strength vector F (in FIG. 15A, an end denoted by an arrow)when the resultant strength vector F is extended from the current motionposition P of the operating rod 3 is calculated as the predicted motionposition P″.

The magnitude of the resultant strength vector F becomes a distancealong which the operating rod 3 moves when the motion speed of theoperating rod 3 (the strength speed) is assumed to continue for aconstant time. The motion speed of the operating rod 3 is a speed whenthe strength corresponding to the input resultant strength signal isapplied to the operating rod 3. In this case, when the resultantstrength is applied to the operating rod 3, the predicted motionposition P″ is calculated as a position where the operating rod 3 ispredicted to arrive. Such a resultant strength vector F can becalculated as, for example, a product of the resultant strength signaland a predetermined coefficient. As a result, the position at the timewhen the operating rod 3 moves at the strength speed for the constanttime can be predicted as the predicted motion position P″.

In another manner, the resultant strength vector F may be calculated as,for example, a vector that connects the current motion position P and aposition where the operating rod 3 is decelerated from the strengthspeed at a predetermined deceleration and is expected to stop(decelerated to stop). That is, the predicted motion position P″ may bea position where the operating rod 3 is decelerated to stop from thestrength speed at the predetermined deceleration. As a result, aposition where the operating rod 3 finally stops can be predicted as thepredicted motion position P″.

The boundary direction speed calculator 1111-17′ calculates a straightline that connects a motion position reference point O and the predictedmotion position P″ (a line segment OP″ indicated by a dotted line inFIG. 15A) (step S1002). An intersection M between the straight line andthe mobile region boundary line B is calculated (step S1003). Acoordinate of the intersection M can be calculated by, for example,solving simultaneous equations of an equation representing the straightline (the line segment OP″) and an equation representing the mobileregion boundary line B.

After the intersection M is calculated, the boundary direction speedcalculator 1111-17′ calculates the boundary direction speed V_(B) basedon a location deviation between the intersection M and the currentmotion position P of the operating rod 3 (step S1004). Specifically, anX-axis component V_(BX) of the boundary direction speed V_(B) iscalculated as a speed at which the operating rod 3 moves from an Xcoordinate value X_(P) of the motion position P to an X coordinate valueX_(M) of the intersection M at a constant deceleration. That is, themagnitude of V_(BX) is calculated according to a formula that isproportional to a square root of an absolute value of a locationdeviation X_(P) (an X coordinate value of the motion position P)—X_(M)(the X coordinate value of the intersection M). Further, a direction ofV_(BX) can be determined based on a magnitude relationship between the Xcoordinate value X_(P) of the motion position P and the X coordinatevalue X_(M) of the intersection M.

On the other hand, a Y-axis component V_(BY) of the boundary directionspeed V_(B) is calculated as a speed at which the operating rod 3 movesfrom a Y coordinate value Y_(P) of the motion position P to a Ycoordinate value Y_(M) of the intersection M at a constant deceleration.Specifically, a magnitude of the Y-axis component V_(BY) of the boundarydirection speed V_(B) is calculated according to a formula that isproportional to a square root of an absolute value obtained by alocation deviation Y_(P) (the Y coordinate value of motion positionP)—Y_(M) (the Y coordinate value of the intersection M). Further, adirection of V_(BY) is determined based on a magnitude relationshipbetween the Y coordinate value Y_(P) of the motion position P and the Ycoordinate value Y_(M) of the intersection M.

As illustrated in FIG. 15A, the boundary direction speed V_(B) obtainedby synthesizing the X-axis component V_(BX) and the Y-axis componentV_(BY) can be calculated as a speed of a direction along the mobileregion boundary line B from the current motion position P of theoperating rod 3 to the intersection M.

As described above, the boundary direction speed is calculated by usingthe intersection M. Therefore, when the predicted motion position P″ isinside an operating rod mobile region MA, the intersection M is notpresent. In this case, the boundary direction speed cannot becalculated. Therefore, when the predicted motion position P″ is insidethe operating rod mobile region MA, the boundary direction speedcalculator 1111-17′ may calculate the boundary direction speed as 0, ormay end the process for calculating the boundary direction speed withoutcalculating the boundary direction speed.

II. Method for Calculating First Synthesis Speed

The method for calculating the first synthesis speed in the first speedcomponent synthesizing unit 1111-33′ is described below with referenceto FIG. 16A. FIG. 16A is a flowchart illustrating the method forcalculating the first synthesis speed in the first speed componentsynthesizing unit. In this embodiment, the first speed componentsynthesizing unit 1111-33′ calculates a sum of a product of any lowerone of the strength speed and the boundary line arrival speed and afirst synthesis coefficient and a product of the speed input from thesecond speed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′ and a second synthesiscoefficient as the first synthesis speed. That is, the first synthesisspeed is defined as a speed obtained by synthesizing any lower one ofthe strength speed and the boundary line arrival speed with the speedinput from the second speed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′ in afirst ratio (the first synthesis coefficient/the second synthesiscoefficient).

Specifically, the first speed component synthesizing unit 1111-33′calculates the first synthesis coefficient and the second synthesiscoefficient based on the current motion position P of the operating rod3 (step S1101). In this embodiment, the first synthesis coefficient andthe second synthesis coefficient are calculated as illustrated in FIG.16B. FIG. 16B is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the firstsynthesis coefficient and the second synthesis coefficient, and adistance from the motion position reference point O to the motionposition P. As illustrated in FIG. 16B, the first synthesis coefficient(a doted line in FIG. 16B) is 1 when the current motion position P ofthe operating rod 3 is within a range from the motion position referencepoint O to a boundary-direction speed synthesis starting positionR_(TH). Further, when the motion position P of the operating rod 3 iswithin a range from the boundary-direction speed synthesis startingposition R_(TH) to the mobile region boundary line B, the firstsynthesis coefficient monotonically decreases from 1 to 0. Further, whenthe motion position P of the operating rod 3 is outside the operatingrod mobile region MA, the first synthesis coefficient is 0.

The second synthesis coefficient (a solid line in FIG. 163) is, contraryto the first synthesis coefficient, 0 when the current motion position Pof the operating rod 3 is between the motion position reference point Oand the boundary-direction speed synthesis starting position R_(TH).When the motion position P of the operating rod 3 is within the rangefrom the boundary-direction speed synthesis starting position R_(TH) tothe mobile region boundary line B, the second synthesis coefficientmonotonically increases from 0 to 1. Further, when the motion position Pof the operating rod 3 is outside the operating rod mobile region MA,the second synthesis coefficient is 1.

Further, the first synthesis coefficient and the second synthesiscoefficient (the first ratio) may be calculated as illustrated in FIG.16B based on a distance between the mobile region boundary line B andthe current motion position P of the operating rod 3. As a result, as tothe operating rod mobile region MA of any shape other than the circularshape, the first synthesis coefficient and the second synthesiscoefficient can be determined.

After the first synthesis coefficient and the second synthesiscoefficient are calculated, the first speed component synthesizing unit1111-33′ determines whether the current motion position P of theoperating rod 3 is within the range from the motion position referencepoint O to the boundary-direction speed synthesis starting positionR_(TH) (step S1102). When the determination is made that the currentmotion position P of the operating rod 3 is within the range from themotion position reference point O to the boundary-direction speedsynthesis starting position R_(TH) (“Yes” at step S1102), the firstspeed component synthesizing unit 1111-33′ calculates any lower one ofthe boundary line arrival speed and the strength speed as the firstsynthesis speed (step S1103). This is because when the motion position Pof the operating rod 3 is within the range from the motion positionreference point O to the boundary-direction speed synthesis startingposition R_(TH), the first synthesis coefficient is calculated as 1, andthe second synthesis coefficient is calculated as 0.

On the other hand, when the determination is made that the currentmotion position P of the operating rod 3 is outside the range from themotion position reference point O to the boundary-direction speedsynthesis starting position R_(TH) (“No” at step S1102), the first speedcomponent synthesizing unit 1111-33′ further determines whether thecurrent motion position P is outside the operating rod mobile region MA(here, also “on the mobile region boundary line B” is included in“outside the operating rod mobile region MA) (step S1104).

When the determination is made that the motion position P of theoperating rod 3 is outside the operating rod mobile region MA (“Yes” atstep S1104), the first speed component synthesizing unit 1111-33′calculates the speed output from the second speed component synthesizingunit 1111-35′ as the first synthesis speed (step S1105). This isbecause, in this case, the first synthesis coefficient is calculated as0 and the second synthesis coefficient is calculated as 1.

On the other hand, when the determination is made that the motionposition P of the operating rod 3 is on a position closer to the mobileregion boundary line B than the boundary-direction speed synthesisstarting position R_(TH) inside the operating rod mobile region MA,namely, the motion position P of the operating rod 3 is near the mobileregion boundary line B (“No” at step S1104), both the first synthesiscoefficient and the second synthesis coefficient obtain values in arange from 0 to 1. Therefore, the first speed component synthesizingunit 1111-33′ synthesizes any lower one of the strength speed and theboundary line arrival speed with the speed output from the second speedcomponent synthesizing unit 1111-35′ in the first ratio so as tocalculate the first synthesis speed (step S1106).

Steps S1101 to S1106 are executed, so that the first speed component iscalculated as follows based on the current motion position P of theoperating rod 3.

(I) When the current motion position P of the operating rod 3 is withinthe range from the motion position reference point O to theboundary-direction speed synthesis starting position R_(TH), the lowerone of the strength speed and the boundary line arrival speed becomesthe first synthesis speed (step S1103). That is, when the current motionposition P of the operating rod 3 is sufficiently inside the operatingrod mobile region MA, similarly to the first embodiment, the lower oneof the strength speed and the boundary line arrival speed is calculatedas the first synthesis speed.

(II) When the current motion position P of the operating rod 3 is closerto the mobile region boundary line B than the boundary-direction speedsynthesis starting position R_(TH) inside the operating rod mobileregion MA, namely, when the current motion position P of the operatingrod 3 is near the mobile region boundary line B, the lower one of thestrength speed and the boundary line arrival speed is synthesized withthe speed output from the second speed component synthesizing unit1111-35′ in the first ratio so that the first synthesis speed iscalculated (step S1106).

(III) When the current motion position P of the operating rod 3 isoutside the operating rod mobile region MA (including the mobile regionboundary line B), the speed output from the second speed componentsynthesizing unit 1111-35′ is calculated as the first synthesis speed(step S1105).

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 16B, since the first synthesiscoefficient and the second synthesis coefficient continuously change, arate of the speed output from the second speed component synthesizingunit 1111-35′ and a rate of the strength speed or the boundary linearrival speed at the first synthesis speed continuously change withrespect to the motion position P of the operating rod 3. As a result,the first synthesis speed is prevented from abruptly changing, and theoperating rod 3 can be moved smoothly.

III. Method for Calculating Speed in Second Speed Component SynthesizingUnit

The method for calculating the speed in the second speed componentsynthesizing unit 1111-35′ is described below with reference to FIG.17A. FIG. 17A is a flowchart illustrating the method for calculating thespeed in the second speed component synthesizing unit. The second speedcomponent synthesizing unit 1111-35′ calculates the speed by summing aproduct of the strength speed and a third synthesis coefficient and aproduct of the boundary direction speed and a fourth synthesiscoefficient.

Specifically, the second speed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′calculates the third synthesis coefficient and the fourth synthesiscoefficient illustrated in FIG. 17B based on the predicted motionposition P″ (step S1201). FIG. 17B is a diagram illustrating arelationship between the third synthesis coefficient and the fourthsynthesis coefficient and a distance from the motion position referencepoint to the predicted motion position.

As illustrated in FIG. 17B, the third synthesis coefficient (a dottedline in FIG. 17B) is 1 when the predicted motion position P″ is withinthe operating rod mobile region MA. When the predicted motion positionP″ is outside the operating rod mobile region MA, as a distance betweenthe mobile region boundary line B and the predicted motion position P″increases, the third synthesis coefficient monotonically decreases. Whenthe predicted motion position P″ is on a position farther than thepredetermined position outside the operating rod mobile region MA, thethird synthesis coefficient becomes 0.

On the other hand, the fourth synthesis coefficient (a solid line inFIG. 17B) is 0 when the predicted motion position P″ is within theoperating rod mobile region MA. When the predicted motion position P″ isoutside the operating rod mobile region MA, the fourth synthesiscoefficient monotonically increases as distance from the mobile regionboundary line B to the predicted motion position P″ increases. When thepredicted motion position P″ is on a position farther than thepredetermined position outside the operating rod mobile region MA, thefourth synthesis coefficient is 1.

Further, the third synthesis coefficient and the fourth synthesiscoefficient (the second ratio) may be calculated as illustrated in FIG.17B based on the distance between the mobile region boundary line B andthe predicted motion position P″. As a result, in the operating rodmobile region MA of any shape other than the circular shape, the thirdsynthesis coefficient and the fourth synthesis coefficient can bedetermined.

After the third synthesis coefficient and the fourth synthesiscoefficient are calculated, the second speed component synthesizing unit1111-35′ determines whether the predicted motion position P″ is outsidethe operating rod mobile region MA (step S1202). When the determinationis made that the predicted motion position P″ is inside the operatingrod mobile region MA (“No” at step S1202), the third synthesiscoefficient is calculated as 1, and the fourth synthesis coefficient iscalculated as 0. Therefore, the second speed component synthesizing unit1111-35′ outputs the strength speed (step S1203).

On the other hand, when the determination is made that the predictedmotion position P″ is outside the operating rod mobile region MA (“Yes”at step S1202), the second speed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′further determines whether the predicted motion position P″ is within arange from the mobile region boundary line B to the predeterminedposition (the predetermined range in FIG. 17B) (step S1204).

When the predicted motion position P″ is on an outer side with respectto the predetermined range illustrated in FIG. 17B (“No” at step S1204),the third synthesis coefficient is calculated as 0, and the fourthsynthesis coefficient is calculated as 1. Therefore, in this case, thesecond speed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′ outputs the boundarydirection speed (step S1205).

On the other hand, when the predicted motion position P″ is within thepredetermined range illustrated in FIG. 17B (“Yes” at step S1204), boththe third synthesis coefficient and the fourth synthesis coefficientobtain values ranging from 0 to 1. Therefore, the second speed componentsynthesizing unit 1111-35′ outputs a second synthesis speed obtained bysynthesizing the strength speed with the boundary direction speed in thesecond ratio (step S1206).

Steps S1201 to S1206 are executed so that the second speed componentsynthesizing unit 1111-35′ outputs the following speed according to alocation of the predicted motion position P″.

(IV) When the predicted motion position P″ is within the operating rodmobile region MA, namely, when the operating rod 3 is predicted not tomove outside the operating rod mobile region MA due to a currentstrength, the second speed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′ outputsthe strength speed.

(V) When the predicted motion position P″ is within a range of thepredetermined distance from the mobile region boundary line B outsidethe operating rod mobile region MA, namely, when the operating rod 3 isexpected to move near the mobile region boundary line B outside theoperating rod mobile region MA due to the current strength, the secondspeed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′ outputs the second synthesisspeed.

(VI) When the predicted motion position P″ is on a position away fromthe mobile region boundary line B by the predetermined distance or more,namely, when the operating rod 3 is expected to move to a position awayfrom the operating rod mobile region MA to some extent due to thecurrent strength, the second speed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′outputs the boundary direction speed.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 17B, the third synthesis coefficient andthe fourth synthesis coefficient continuously change with respect to thepredicted motion position. As a result, the speed output from the secondspeed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′ can be changed smoothly fromthe strength speed into the boundary direction speed or vice versa basedon the magnitude of the predicted motion position P″. As a result, themotion speed of the operating rod 3 is prevented from abruptly changing.

IV. Method for Calculating Motion Speed in Third Speed ComponentSynthesizing Unit

The method for calculating the motion speed in the third speed componentsynthesizing unit 1111-37′ is described below with reference to FIG. 18.FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating the method for calculating a speedin the third speed component synthesizing unit. The third speedcomponent synthesizing unit 1111-37′ further synthesizes a speed withthe first synthesis speed from the first speed component synthesizingunit 1111-33′ based on existence locations of the motion position P andthe predicted motion position P″ of the operating rod 3 so as tocalculate a final motion speed.

Specifically, the third speed component synthesizing unit 1111-37′determines whether the motion position P of the operating rod 3 isoutside the operating rod mobile region MA (step S1301). At step S1301,the mobile region boundary line B is included in the operating rodmobile region MA. When the determination is made that the motionposition P of the operating rod 3 is outside the operating rod mobileregion MA (“Yes” at step S1301), the third speed component synthesizingunit 1111-37′ determines that the speed obtained by synthesizing thefirst synthesis speed with the central direction speed as the motionspeed (step S1302).

On the other hand, when the determination is made that the motionposition P of the operating rod 3 is inside the operating rod mobileregion MA (“No” at step S1301), the third speed component synthesizingunit 1111-37′ determines whether the calculated boundary direction speedis lower than a lowest traveling speed (step S1303).

When the boundary direction speed is calculated as a value that is thelowest traveling speed or more (“No” at step S1303), the third speedcomponent synthesizing unit 1111-37′ outputs the first synthesis speedas the motion speed (step S1305).

On the other hand, when the boundary direction speed is calculated to belower than the lowest traveling speed (“Yes” at step S1303), the thirdspeed component synthesizing unit 1111-37′ further determines whetherthe predicted motion position P″ is outside the operating rod mobileregion MA (step S1304). When the determination is made that thepredicted motion position P″ is inside the operating rod mobile regionMA (“No” at step S1304), the third speed component synthesizing unit1111-37′ outputs the first synthesis speed as the motion speed (stepS1305). On the other hand, when the determination is made that thepredicted motion position P″ is outside the operating rod mobile regionMA (“Yes” at step S1304), the third speed component synthesizing unit1111-37′ calculates the motion speed with the boundary direction speedbeing 0 (step S1306).

The meaning of the boundary direction speed being lower than the lowesttraveling speed is now described. When the boundary direction speed iscalculated as a small value, as illustrated in FIG. 19, the distancebetween the current motion position P of the operating rod 3 and theintersection M is short. In another case, the distance between themotion position P of the operating rod 3 and the intersection N is long,but the motion position P is present on the line segment OP″. FIG. 19 isa diagram schematically illustrating one example of a case where theboundary direction speed is calculated as a small value.

V. Operation of Training Apparatus According to Second Embodiment

The operation of the training apparatus 200 according to the secondembodiment is described below with reference to FIG. 20. FIG. 20 is aflowchart illustrating the method for calculating the motion speed ofthe training apparatus according to the second embodiment. The operationof the training apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment is thesame as the operation of the training apparatus 100 according to thefirst embodiment except for the method for calculating the motion speedduring the execution of the first motion mode (corresponding to step S23in the flowchart of FIG. 12B). Therefore, only the method forcalculating the motion speed during the execution of the first motionmode in the training apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment isdescribed below, and the description of the other parts of the operationis omitted.

When the calculation of the motion speed in the training apparatus 200is started, the boundary direction speed calculator 1111-17′ executessteps S1001 to S1004 so as to calculate the boundary direction speed inaddition to the strength speed, the boundary line arrival speed, and thecentral direction speed calculated at step S22 (step S2301).

After the boundary direction speed is calculated, the second speedcomponent synthesizing unit 1111-35′ executes steps S1201 to S1206, andoutputs the predetermined speed based on the location of the predictedmotion position P″ (step S2302).

After the second speed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′ outputs thepredetermined speed, the first speed component synthesizing unit1111-33′ executes steps S1101 to 1106 so as to calculate the firstsynthesis speed (step S2303).

After the first synthesis speed is calculated, the third speed componentsynthesizing unit 1111-37′ executes steps S1301 to S1306 so as tocalculate a final motion speed based on the current motion position Pand the location of the predicted motion position P″ of the operatingrod 3 (step S2304).

When the above-described steps S2301 to S2304 are executed, the motionspeed is calculated as follows based on the predicted motion position P″and the current motion position P of the operating rod 3.

(I) When Current Motion Position of Operating Rod is Present insideOperating Rod Mobile Region

When the current motion position P of the operating rod 3 is presentinside the operating rod mobile region MA, the motion speed iscalculated as follows according to the location of the predicted motionposition P″ and the direction of the force applied to the operating rod3.

(i) When the direction of the force applied to the operating rod isnearly vertical to the mobile region boundary line and the operating rod3 moves to a position away from the operating rod mobile region MA to anextent based on the applied strength

At this time, the boundary direction speed is 0. Therefore, when a forcethat is nearly vertical to the mobile region boundary line B is appliedto the operating rod 3 on the mobile region boundary line B, theoperating rod 3 can be stably stopped on the mobile region boundary lineB.

(ii) When the motion position of the operating rod is sufficientlyinside the operating rod mobile region

When the motion position P of the operating rod 3 is closer to themotion position reference point O than the boundary-direction speedsynthesis starting position R_(TH), namely, when the motion position Pof the operating rod 3 is sufficiently inside the operating rod mobileregion MA, the motion speed of the operating rod 3 is any lower one ofthe strength speed and the boundary line arrival speed similarly to thetraining apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

Not limited only to the case (ii), when any lower one of the strengthspeed and the boundary line arrival speed is output as the motion speed,an upper limit value of the motion speed may be limited to a maximummotion speed V_(max) similarly to the first embodiment. As a result, theoperating rod 3 can be prevented from operating at an excessively highspeed.

(iii) When the motion position of the operating rod is near the mobileregion boundary line and the predicted motion position is present insidethe operating rod mobile region

When the motion position P of the operating rod 3 is near the mobileregion boundary line B and the predicted motion position P″ is presentinside the operating rod mobile region MA (namely, the operating rod 3is not moved outside the operating rod mobile region MA by the forceapplied to the operating rod 3), the motion speed is the lower one ofthe strength speed and the boundary line arrival speed similarly to thetraining apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

That is, even if the motion position P of the operating rod 3 is nearthe mobile region boundary line B, when the operating rod 3 is not movedoutside the operating rod mobile region MA by the force to be applied tothe operating rod 3, the motion speed of the operating rod 3 is thelower one of the strength speed and the boundary line arrival speedsimilarly to the first embodiment.

(iv) When the motion position of the operating rod is near the mobileregion boundary line and the predicted motion position is present nearthe mobile region boundary line outside the operating rod mobile region

When the motion position P of the operating rod 3 is near the mobileregion boundary line B and the predicted motion position P″ is presentnear the mobile region boundary line B outside the operating rod mobileregion MA, the motion speed is calculated as a speed including thestrength speed and the boundary direction speed or including thestrength speed, the boundary direction speed, and the boundary linearrival speed.

A rate of the boundary direction speed in the motion speed is lower thana rate of the boundary direction speed in the motion speed calculatedwhen the predicted motion position P″ is farther than the vicinity ofthe mobile region boundary line B, described later. This is because whenthe predicted motion position P″ is present near the mobile regionboundary line B outside the operating rod mobile region MA, the secondspeed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′ outputs the second synthesisspeed including both the boundary direction speed and the strengthspeed. On the other hand, as described later, when the predicted motionposition P″ is present on a position away from the mobile regionboundary line B, the second speed component synthesizing unit 1111-35′outputs the boundary direction speed.

In other words, when a force that does not move the operating rod 3 faroff the operating rod mobile region MA is applied to the operating rod 3near the mobile region boundary line B, the motion speed includes theboundary direction speed, whereas the motion speed includes also thestrength speed and/or the boundary line arrival speed at a comparativelyhigh rate.

Therefore, when the motion position P of the operating rod 3 is near themobile region boundary line B and the force applied to the operating rod3 does not cause the operating rod 3 to be far off the operating rodmobile region MA (for example, when the magnitude of the force to beapplied is weak and/or an angle (an acute angle) between a direction ofthe force to be applied and a tangent of the mobile region boundary lineB is small), the operating rod 3 can be moved along the mobile regionboundary line B and simultaneously to the direction where the force isapplied.

Further, the first synthesis coefficient and the second synthesiscoefficient continuously change with respect to the motion position P ofthe operating rod 3 (FIG. 16B), and the third synthesis coefficient andthe fourth synthesis coefficient continuously change with respect to thepredicted motion position P″ (FIG. 17B). As a result, the rate of theboundary direction speed in the motion speed is gradually larger as themotion position P of the operating rod 3 is farther from the motionposition reference point O and/or the predicted motion position P″ isfarther from the mobile region boundary line B. As a result, the motionspeed can be smoothly changed from the strength speed and/or theboundary line arrival speed to the boundary direction speed or viceversa. As a result, the change in the motion speed can suppress animpact exerting on the operating rod 3.

(v) When the motion position of the operating rod is near the mobileregion boundary line and the predicted motion position is on a positionaway from the mobile region boundary line outside the operating rodmobile region

When the motion position P of the operating rod 3 is near the mobileregion boundary line B and the predicted motion position P″ is presenton the position away from the mobile region boundary line B outside theoperating rod mobile region MA (namely, outside the predeterminedrange), the motion speed is calculated as a speed including the boundarydirection speed and the strength speed or the boundary line arrivalspeed. The rate of the boundary direction speed in the motion speedcalculated under this condition is larger than the rate of the boundarydirection speed in the motion speed calculated under the condition (iv).That is, the influence of the boundary direction speed in the motionspeed is more emphatic than that in the condition (iv).

In other words, when the current motion position P of the operating rod3 is near the mobile region boundary line B and the force applied to theoperating rod 3 makes the predicted motion position P″ deviate from theoperating rod mobile region MA to an extent, the influence of theboundary direction speed is increased in the motion speed. As a result,for example, even when the force to be applied to the operating rod 3 isnot extremely weak and the angle (the acute angle) between the directionof the force to be applied and the tangent of the mobile region boundaryline B is large, the operating rod 3 can be restrained from movingoutside the operating rod mobile region MA.

(II) When Current Motion Position of Operating Rod is on Mobile RegionBoundary Line

When the current motion position P of the operating rod 3 is on themobile region boundary line B and the predicted motion position P″ ispresent within the predetermined range, the second synthesis speed isoutput as the motion speed. On the other hand, when the predicted motionposition P″ is outside the predetermined range, the boundary directionspeed is output as the motion speed.

In other words, when the current motion position P of the operating rod3 is on the mobile region boundary line B, for example, when the forceto be applied to the operating rod 3 is weak and the angle (the acuteangle) between the direction of the force to be applied and the tangentof the mobile region boundary line B is small, the operating rod 3 ismoved also in view of the force applied to the operating rod 3.

On the other hand, for example, when the force to be applied to theoperating rod 3 is not extremely weak and the angle (the acute angle)between the direction of the force to be applied and the tangent of themobile region boundary line B is large, the operating rod 3 is movedalong the mobile region boundary line B.

(III) When Current Motion Position of Operating Rod is Present OutsideOperating Rod Mobile Region

When the current motion position P of the operating rod 3 is outside theoperating rod mobile region MA, the motion speed includes the centraldirection speed that is a speed component toward the motion positionreference point O. As a result, when the motion position P of theoperating rod 3 is outside the operating rod mobile region MA, theoperating rod 3 is moved inside the operating rod mobile region MA.

In the method for calculating the motion speed described in the secondembodiment, the order of the operation illustrated in the flowchart maybe changed or the operation may be changed without exceeding the scopeof the present invention.

3. Effects of Embodiments

Effects of the first embodiment and the second embodiment are asfollows.

The training apparatus according to the first embodiment (for example,the training apparatus 100) is the training apparatus for traininguser's four limbs including upper limbs and/or lower limbs according tothe predetermined training program. The training apparatus includes theoperating rod (for example, the operating rod 3), the strength detectors(for example, the Y-axis strength detector 175, the X-axis strengthdetector 177, and the lengthwise strength detector 393), the motionposition detectors (for example, the first motion position detector 135a-1, the second motion position detector 135 b-1, and the third motionposition detector 359-1), the strength speed calculator (for example,the strength speed calculator 1111-11), the boundary line arrival speedcalculator (for example, the boundary line arrival speed calculator1111-13), and the motion speed calculator (for example, the motion speedcalculator 1111-3).

The operating rod is supported to the stationary frame (for example, thestationary frame 1) placed on a floor surface or near the floor surfaceso as to be movable at 1 or more degrees of freedom. Further, theoperating rod moves a held limb. The strength detector detects astrength component and outputs a strength component signal based on thedetected strength component. The strength component is a component ineach freedom degree direction of a strength applied to the operating rodat which the operating rod is movable. The motion position detectordetects the motion positions of the operating rod (for example, themotion position P of the operating rod). The motion position of theoperating rod is a position of the operating rod in each related freedomdegree direction at which the operating rod is movable.

The strength speed calculator calculates a strength speed of theoperating rod based on the strength component signal output from thestrength detector. The boundary line arrival speed calculator calculatesthe boundary line arrival speed whose absolute value is smaller as aboundary line distance (for example, the boundary line distance D) isshorter. The boundary line distance is a distance from the currentmotion position of the operating rod to the mobile region boundary line(for example, the mobile region boundary line B). The mobile regionboundary line is a boundary line for determining a boundary of theoperating rod mobile region (for example, the operating rod mobileregion MA). The operating rod mobile region is a region for setting amovable range of the operating rod.

The motion speed calculator calculates the lower one of the strengthspeed and the boundary line arrival speed as the motion speed. Themotion speed is a speed at which the operating rod should operate.

In the training apparatus, the motion position detectors detect thecurrent motion positions of the operating rod and the strength detectorsdetect strengths (for example, step S21). After the current motionposition and strength are detected, the strength speed calculatorcalculates the strength speed based on the strength component signals,and the boundary line arrival speed calculator calculates the boundaryline arrival speed based on the boundary line distance (for example,step S22). Thereafter, the motion speed calculator calculates the lowerone of the strength speed and the boundary line arrival speed as themotion speed (for example, steps S231 to S236).

In the training apparatus, the boundary line arrival speed whoseabsolute value is smaller as the boundary line distance is shorter, andthe strength speed based on the strength are calculated, and the lowerone of the boundary line arrival speed and the strength speed isselected as the motion speed of the operating rod. That is, the motionspeed of the operating rod is limited to the lowest one of thecalculated speed components. Further, the motion speed is limited by theboundary line arrival speed whose absolute value is smaller as theboundary line distance is shorter particularly near the mobile regionboundary line. As a result, when the operating rod arrives at the mobileregion boundary line, the operating rod can be restrained from abruptlystopping to exert an impact on the limb and the operating rod canrestrained from moving outside the operating rod mobile region.

Further, by selecting the lower one of the strength speed and theboundary line arrival speed as the motion speed, the motion speed can besmoothly switched from the strength speed into the boundary line arrivalspeed (or vice versa). As a result, the motion speed of the operatingrod can be switched without exerting an impact on the limb.

The motion speed is limited to a maximum motion speed (for example, themaximum motion speed V_(max)) or less. The maximum motion speed is aspeed for determining an upper limit value of the motion speed of theoperating rod. As a result, the operating rod can be restrained frombeing moved at an excessively high speed.

When the determination is made that the current motion position of theoperating rod is present outside the operating rod mobile region, themotion speed calculator calculates a motion speed including the speedcomponent (for example, the central direction speed) directed toward themotion position reference point (for example, the motion positionreference point O) (for example, step S235 and step S236). The motionposition reference point is a reference point of the motion position ofthe operating rod. As a result, the operating rod can be restrained frombeing further moved outside the operating rod mobile region, and theoperating rod can be restrained from being disabled while the currentmotion position of the operating rod is present outside the operatingrod mobile region. Further, the operating rod outside the operating rodmobile region is returned into the operating rod mobile region.

The training apparatus according to the second embodiment (for example,the training apparatus 200) includes the operating rod (for example, theoperating rod 3), the strength detectors (for example, the Y-axisstrength detector 175, the X-axis strength detector 177, and thelengthwise strength detector 393), the motion position detectors (forexample, the first motion position detector 135 a-1, the second motionposition detector 135 b-1, and the third motion position detector359-1), the boundary direction speed calculator (for example, theboundary direction speed calculator 1111-17′), the motion positionpredicting unit (for example, the motion position predicting unit1111-19′), and the motion speed calculator (for example, the motionspeed calculator 1111-3′).

The operating rod is supported to the stationary frame placed on a floorsurface or near the floor surface so as to be movable at 2 or moredegrees of freedom. Further, the operating rod moves a held limb. Eachof the plurality of strength detectors detects the strength componentand calculates the detected strength component as a strength componentsignal. The strength component is a component in each freedom degreedirection of a strength applied to the operating rod at which theoperating rod is movable. The motion position detector detects a motionposition of the operating rod. The motion position of the operating rodis a motion position in each related freedom degree direction at whichthe operating rod is movable.

The boundary direction speed calculator calculates a boundary directionspeed. The boundary direction speed is a speed component along themobile region boundary line (for example, the mobile region boundaryline B). The mobile region boundary line is a boundary line fordetermining a boundary of the operating rod mobile region (for example,the operating rod mobile region MA). The operating rod mobile region isa region for setting a movable range of the operating rod. The motionposition predicting unit predicts the predicted motion position (forexample, the predicted motion position P″). The predicted motionposition is the motion position of the operating rod where the operatingrod is predicted to arrive when a resultant strength is applied to theoperating rod on a current motion position of the operating rod. Theresultant strength is a strength to be obtained by synthesizing thestrength components in the respective freedom degree directions. Whenthe predicted motion position is predicted to be outside the operatingrod mobile region, the motion speed calculator calculates a speedincluding the boundary direction speed as the motion speed. The motionspeed is a speed at which the operating rod should operate.

In the training apparatus according to the second embodiment, thecurrent motion position of the operating rod and the strength componentof the strength to be applied to the operating rod are detected (forexample, step S21). The motion position predicting unit predicts thepredicted motion position where the operating rod arrives when theresultant strength is applied to the operating rod on the current motionposition of the operating rod. When the predicted motion position ispredicted to be present outside the operating rod mobile region, themotion speed calculator calculates the speed including the boundarydirection speed calculated by the boundary direction speed calculator asthe motion speed (for example, steps S2301 to S2304).

In the training apparatus according to the second embodiment, when theoperating rod is predicted to be present outside the operating rodmobile region as a result of applying the resultant strength to theoperating rod, the speed including the boundary direction speed that isa speed component along the mobile region boundary line is calculated asthe motion speed. That is, when the operating rod is moved outside theoperating rod mobile region by the force applied to the operating rod,the operating rod is moved along the mobile region boundary line. As aresult, a natural motion along the mobile region boundary line withrespect to the applied force can be realized near the boundary of theoperating rod mobile region.

The boundary direction speed calculator calculates the boundarydirection speed based on the location deviation between the intersectionbetween the straight line for connecting the motion position referencepoint (for example, the motion position reference point O) to thepredicted motion position, and the mobile region boundary line (forexample, the intersection M) and the current motion position of theoperating rod (for example, steps S1001 to S1004). The motion positionreference point is a reference point of the motion position of theoperating rod. As a result, the boundary direction speed can becalculated as a speed in a direction along the mobile region boundaryline from the current motion position of the operating rod to theintersection.

The training apparatus according to the second embodiment furtherincludes the strength speed calculator (for example, the strength speedcalculator 1111-11′) and the boundary line arrival speed calculator (forexample, the boundary line arrival speed calculator 1111-13′). Thestrength speed calculator calculates the strength speed of the operatingrod based on the strength component signals output from the plurality ofstrength detectors. The boundary line arrival speed calculatorcalculates the boundary line arrival speed based on the boundary linedistance from the current motion position of the operating rod to themobile region boundary line (for example, the boundary line distance D).In this case, the motion speed calculator synthesizes the boundarydirection speed with the boundary line arrival speed and/or the strengthspeed so as to calculate the motion speed (for example, steps S2301 toS2304). As a result, the motion speed including the boundary directionspeed and the boundary line arrival speed and/or the strength speed canbe calculated.

The predicted motion position may be a position where the operating rodis predicted to arrive if the strength speed is kept for a fixed time.As a result, a position where the operating rod moves at the strengthspeed for a fixed time can be predicted as the predicted motionposition.

The predicted motion position may be a position where the operating rodis predicted to decelerate to stop at a predetermined deceleration speedfrom the strength speed. As a result, a position where the operating rodfinally stops can be predicted as the predicted motion position.

The motion speed calculator calculates the first synthesis speed as themotion speed (for example, steps S1101 to S1106). The first synthesisspeed is a speed obtained by synthesizing any lower one of the strengthspeed and the boundary line arrival speed with the boundary directionspeed or the second synthesis speed in the first ratio. The secondsynthesis speed is a speed including the boundary direction speed andthe strength speed. The first ratio changes based on the current motionposition. As a result, the motion speed obtained by synthesizing theboundary direction speed with the strength speed or the boundary linearrival speed in a suitable ratio can be calculated according to thecurrent motion position of the operating rod. As a result, an influenceof the boundary direction speed and an influence of the strength speedor the boundary line arrival speed are gradually changed so that theoperating rod can be moved smoothly.

The first ratio may be calculated based on a distance between the mobileregion boundary line and the current motion position of the operatingrod. As a result, the first ratio can be determined for the mobileregion boundary line of any shape.

The second synthesis speed is calculated by synthesizing the strengthspeed with the boundary direction speed in the second ratio (forexample, step S1206). The second ratio changes based on the predictedmotion position. As a result, depending on the force applied to theoperating rod, while the operating rod is being moved preferably to thedirection where the force is applied to the operating rod, naturalmotions of the operating rod can be realized along the mobile regionboundary line with respect to the applied forces near the boundary ofthe operating rod mobile region.

The second ratio may be calculated based on a distance between themobile region boundary line and the predicted motion position. As aresult, the second ratio can be determined for the mobile regionboundary line of any shape.

When the boundary direction speed is lower than the lowest travelingspeed (for example, “Yes” at step S1303) and the predicted motionposition is outside the operating rod mobile region (for example, “Yes”at step S1304), the motion speed calculator calculates a speed at whichthe operating rod arrives at the mobile region boundary line, and theboundary direction speed to 0 (for example, step S1306). As a result,the operating rod can be stopped stably on the mobile region boundaryline. Further, when the operating rod goes slightly out of the operatingrod mobile region due to a control delay, the speed toward the motionposition reference point exerts until entry into the operating rodmobile region. For this reason, the operating rod quickly moves to themobile region boundary line (for example, step S1302).

The calculating method according to the second embodiment is a methodfor calculating the motion speed of the operating rod at which a heldlimb is moved in the training apparatus for training any one of user'supper limbs and/or lower limbs according to the predetermined trainingprogram. The calculating method includes

a step of detecting the current motion position of the operating rod(for example, step S21),

a step of detecting the strength components of the strength applied tothe operating rod in the respective freedom degree directions (forexample, step S21),

a step of predicting the predicted motion position at which theoperating rod arrives when the resultant strength is applied to theoperating rod in a current motion position (for example, step S1001),and

a step of calculating the speed including the boundary direction speedas the motion speed when the predicted motion position is predicted tobe outside the operating rod mobile region (for example, steps S2301 toS2304).

When the motion speed of the operating rod is calculated by thecalculating method including the above steps, the operating rod can bemoved along the mobile region boundary line.

The step of calculating the speed including the boundary direction speedas the motion speed includes

a step of calculating the straight line for connecting the motionposition reference point with the predicted motion position (forexample, step S1002),

a step of calculating the intersection between the straight line and themobile region boundary line (for example, step S1003), and

a step of calculating the boundary direction speed based on the locationdeviation between the intersection and the current motion position ofthe operating rod (for example, step S1004).

When the boundary direction speed is calculated by the calculatingmethod including the above steps, the boundary direction speed can becalculated as a speed in a direction along the mobile region boundaryline toward the intersection. As a result, a natural motion along themobile region boundary line with respect to the applied force can berealized near the boundary of the operating rod mobile region.

4. Other Embodiments

The above describes embodiments of the present invention, but thepresent invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and variousmodifications can be made without departing from the subject-matter ofthe invention. Particularly, the plurality of embodiments and thealternative embodiments described in this specification can bearbitrarily combined.

(A) Another Embodiment of Boundary Direction Speed

In the training apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment, theboundary direction speed is calculated as a speed directed from thecurrent motion position P of the operating rod 3 to an intersection M asillustrated in FIG. 15A. However, not limited to this, a plurality oftarget points may be provided between the current motion position P andthe intersection M, and the boundary direction speeds at which theoperating rod 3 passes through the target points may be calculated.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 21, a plurality of target pointsM₁′, M₂′, M₃′, . . . may be provided on the mobile region boundary lineB from the current motion position P of the operating rod 3 to theintersection M at predetermined intervals, and a plurality of speeds maybe calculated as the boundary direction speed so that the operating rod3 passes through the target points. FIG. 21 is a diagram schematicallyillustrating another embodiment of the boundary direction speed.

Specifically, for example, the boundary direction speed can be definedas a speed composed of a plurality of speed components such as a speedV1 of a motion to a point N₁ along a direction from the current motionposition P to the intersection M, a speed V2 of a motion from the pointN₁ to a target point M₁′ on the mobile region boundary line B, a speedV3 of a motion to a point N₂ along a direction from the target point M₁′to the intersection M, a speed V4 of a motion from the point N₂ to atarget point M₂′ on the mobile region boundary line B, and so on.

The boundary direction speed is composed of the plurality of speedcomponents for passing through the plurality of target points on themobile region boundary line B. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 21,the operating rod 3 can be moved along the mobile region boundary line Bso as to be closer to the mobile region boundary line B than a casewhere the operating rod 3 is moved from the current motion position Pdirectly to the intersection M.

The present invention can be applied widely to training apparatuses forsupporting rehabilitation of patient's upper limbs and lower limbsaccording to the predetermined training program.

While embodiments of the present invention have been described above, itis to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparentto those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spiritof the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore,is to be determined solely by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A training apparatus for training a user's fourlimbs including upper limbs and/or lower limbs according to apredetermined training program, the apparatus comprising: an operatingrod configured for moving a held limb, the operating rod being supportedto a stationary frame placed on or near a floor surface so as to bemovable at one or more degrees of freedom; a strength detectorconfigured for detecting a strength component that is a component of astrength applied to the operating rod in each freedom degree directionwhere the operating rod is movable, and outputting a strength componentsignal based on a magnitude of the detected strength component; a motionposition configured detector for detecting a motion position of theoperating rod in the corresponding freedom degree direction where theoperating rod is movable; a strength speed calculator configured forcalculating a strength speed of the operating rod based on the strengthcomponent signal output from the strength detector; a boundary linearrival speed calculator configured for calculating a boundary linearrival speed whose absolute value is smaller as a boundary linedistance is shorter, the boundary line distance being from a currentmotion position of the operating rod to a mobile region boundary linefor defining a boundary of an operating rod mobile region for setting arange where the operating rod is movable; and a motion speed calculatorconfigured for calculating a lower one of the strength speed and theboundary line arrival speed as a motion speed at which the operating rodis to be moved.
 2. The training apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe motion speed is limited to a maximum motion speed or less.
 3. Thetraining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a determination ismade that the current motion position of the operating rod is presentoutside the operating rod mobile region, the motion speed calculatorcalculates a motion speed including a speed component toward a motionposition reference point as a reference point of the motion position ofthe operating rod.
 4. The training apparatus according to claim 2,wherein when a determination is made that the current motion position ofthe operating rod is present outside the operating rod mobile region,the motion speed calculator calculates a motion speed including a speedcomponent toward a motion position reference point as a reference pointof the motion position of the operating rod.